FitSugar

How to Prevent Bad Breath

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:00:24 -0700

We've all been embarrassed by occasional bouts of bad breath after eating a roasted garlic pizza or a sandwich piled with onions. If you're dealing with bad breath all the time, though, it can be mortifying. So here are some tips to keep your mouth smelling fresh.

Quit cigarettes if you're a smoker.
Get your teeth checked out by your dentist. Cavities and gum disease can cause bad breath.
Brush and floss during the day, every time you eat. When food particles hang out in your mouth, bacteria collects and emits stinky hydrogen sulfur vapors. So keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss in your purse at all times to use after coffee breaks, lunch, and snacks.
Drink more water. It'll help keep the bacteria in your mouth to a minimum.
Don't mask your bad breath with sugary mints. They'll freshen your breath briefly, but the sugar will only cause more stinky plaque to build up. If you can't brush, go for sugarless gum instead since chewing increases saliva production, which is your best weapon against bad breath.

What else can help prevent bad breath? To find out, read more.

If you suffer from allergies or sinus infections, postnasal drip in the back of your throat can cause bad breath. So get your symptoms under control with antibiotics or allergy meds.
Keep in mind, though, that certain medications such as decongestants or allergy pills can cause dry mouth, which can also lead to bad breath. When your mouth is dry, dead cells and bacteria accumulate on your gums, tongue, and teeth. When these cells decompose, they produce a foul smell. Water helps, but if your symptoms are really bothering you try switching medications.
Eat yogurt. Studies have found that one serving of yogurt each day reduces the level of odor-causing hydrogen sulfide in the mouth. Be sure to eat ones with active cultures.
Avoid certain foods such as garlic, onions, and alcohol. Once consumed, these foods get absorbed into your bloodstream, are carried to your lungs, and are given off in your breath.
To help prevent the buildup of plague, which can cause bad breath, eat crunchy fibrous foods such as apples, carrots, and celery.
Bacterium aren't a fan of foods such as citrus fruits, berries, and melon because they make the environment in your mouth too acidic, so get your fill of vitamin C. Another plus for consuming vitamin C is that it also helps prevent gum disease and gingivitis.
Chew herbs such as parsley, coriander, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and cardamom. These all help fight bad breath.
Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper. Use it twice a day to remove bacteria and dead skin cells from your tongue.

Got Bad Breath? Try This

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0700

We've all been embarrassed by occasional bouts of bad breath, but it can be mortifying if you're dealing with it all the time. When it comes to preventing this odorous issue, I don't need to tell you to quit cigarettes if you're a smoker or to brush and floss regularly (since you already know that), so here are some other tips to keep your mouth smelling fresh.

Get your teeth checked out by your dentist. Cavities and gum disease can cause bad breath.
Brush and floss during the day, every time you eat. When food particles hang out in your mouth, bacteria collects and emits stinky hydrogen sulfur vapors. So keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss in your purse at all times to use after coffee breaks, lunch, and snacks.
Don't mask your bad breath with sugary mints or gum. They'll freshen your breath briefly, but the sugar will only cause more smelly plaque to build up. If you can't brush, go for sugarless breath fresheners instead.
If you suffer from allergies or sinus infections, postnasal drip in the back of your throat can cause bad breath. So get your symptoms under control with antibiotics or allergies meds.
Just so you know though, certain medications such as decongestants or allergy pills can cause dry mouth, which can also lead to bad breath. When your mouth is dry, dead cells and bacteria accumulate on your gums, tongue, and teeth. When these cells decompose, they produce a foul smell. Water helps, but if your symptoms are really bothering you try switching medications.

What else can help prevent bad breath? To find out read more.

Eat yogurt. Studies have found that one serving of yogurt each day reduces the level of odor-causing hydrogen sulfide in the mouth. Be sure to eat ones with active cultures.
Avoid certain foods such as garlic, onions, and alcohol. Once consumed, these foods get absorbed into your bloodstream, are carried to your lungs, and are given off in your breath.
To help prevent the buildup of plague, which can cause bad breath, eat crunchy fibrous foods such as apples, carrots, and celery.
Bacterium aren't a fan of foods such as citrus fruits, berries, and melon because they make the environment in your mouth too acidic, so get your fill of vitamin C. Another plus for consuming vitamin C is that it also helps prevent gum disease and gingivitis.
Chew herbs such as parsley, coriander, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and cardamom. These all help fight bad breath.
Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper. Use it twice a day to remove bacteria and dead skin cells from your tongue.

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Bad Breath? Could Be a Bug

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0700

For some people who suffer from halitosis (severe bad breath), it can be really embarrassing. It's often caused by the breakdown of bacteria in a person's mouth, which produces a foul-smelling sulfur odor on the tongue. Bad breath can also originate in the lungs or sinuses.

Now researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine have identified a specific tongue bacteria that causes chronic bad breath. I don't mean to gross you out, but they say that the bacteria known as Solobacterium moorei, can also be found in human feces. Um, eww.

In the small study, scientists collected samples by scraping an area of the tongue's surface in 21 people with bad breath and 36 without. This bacteria was found in every person who had halitosis. So now that researchers have discovered this bacteria, now they can help come up with treatments to rid people's mouths of it.

Fit's Tip: If you have an issue with bad breath, using a tongue scraper may help immensely.

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Another Reason to Lose a Few: Bad Breath

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 02:00:00 -0800

Bad breath, a common side effect of dry mouth, poor dental hygiene, the morning cup of coffee, and a big meal heavy in garlic and onions, has added a new cause to the list.

Obesity is the latest perpetrator for causing bad breath among many of us. New research out of Tel Aviv has found that overweight patients were more likely to have foul-smelling breath than the non overweight patients in the study. As to why this is the case is still up in the air, however researchers believe that obese people may have a diet that promotes the condition of dry mouth or that people who are obese may be less in tune with taking care of their mouths and bodies. Regardless, it's just another reason to eat healthy, exercise, and practice good dental hygiene.

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5 Things: To Fight Bad Breath

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Everyone suffers from the occasional bad breath, but it can be an embarrassing problem if you're dealing with it all the time. Of course brushing your teeth, using mouthwash and not smoking are well-known ways to prevent bad breath, but here are a few others.

Every time you eat, brush and floss your teeth. Food particles that remain in your mouth and in between your teeth collect bacteria. The bacteria emits hydrogen sulfur vapors. So keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss in your purse or desk so you can clean your mouth after your morning coffee, your lunch, and your mid-afternoon snack. Not only will brushing and flossing keep your mouth clean, but I know when my breath is minty fresh, I'm less likely to snack between meals.
Certain foods such as onions, garlic, and alcohol can cause bad breath. After they are consumed, they are absorbed into your bloodstream, carried to your lungs and given off in your breath until the food is eliminated from your body. Avoiding these foods can prevent this stinky problem.
If you have allergies, sinus infections, or post nasal drip, the nasal discharge in the back of your throat can cause bad breath (gross I know, but true). Try to figure out the cause of your symptoms. If you are allergic to something, like cats, try to avoid your triggers. Using a neti pot can also help to flush allergens out of your nose. If you have a sinus infection, be sure to take antibiotics to get rid of the infection.

Want to hear what else may help bad breath? Then read more

Dry mouth can also contribute to bad breath since saliva helps to cleanse and moisten your mouth. A dry mouth allows dead cells and bacteria to accumulate on your gums, tongue and teeth. When these cells decompose, they cause that foul smell. (Morning breath is caused by a dry mouth). It's important to note that certain medications such as decongestants and allergy meds can cause dry mouth too. If you have issues with dry mouth, try to drink more water. If you are taking allergy meds, and your bad breath annoys you more than your sneezing and runny nose, then you may want to consider ditching your meds.
Get yourself a tongue scraper. Use it twice a day to clean your tongue and get rid of excess bacteria.

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Tips For Beating Bad Breath

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Nothing is worse than having bad breath. Unless you're talking to someone who has bad breath, because that can be pretty bad too! Unfortunately you can not really do anything about someone else's bad breath, but you can do something about your own. MSNBC gives us these five food ideas to help combat bad breath:

Chew on this. Move over parsley, there are some new halitosis-fighting herbs in town. “Coriander, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary and cardamom are all good for fighting bad breath,” says Dr. Christine Gerbstadt, who has lectured on oral health. You can chew on fresh herbs or make tonics by steeping them in hot water (as a tea). These herbs make an excellent digestive as well-doubling the benefits of ending a meal this way.

There's four more ideas, so read more

Get some active culture. No, not a Broadway play, but yogurt. A recent study found that a serving of yogurt each day reduces the level of odor-causing hydrogen sulfide in the mouth. Apparently it also cuts back on bacteria in the mouth-plaque and gum disease were reduced in the study’s yogurt eaters as well. Plus, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) recommends getting enough vitamin D from yogurt, cheese and milk if you’re worried about halitosis because this vitamin creates an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth. Be sure to get the kind of yogurt with active cultures-not overly processed or sugar-added varieties.
Crunchy types. Apples, carrots, celery-basically any fiber-rich fruit or vegetable is your friend when it comes to fighting halitosis. “Inside your mouth, plaque build-up causes odors,” explains Cynthia Sass, ADA spokeswoman and registered dietician. “Eating foods that increase saliva production keep the mouth moist-and rinsed out. Also, many carbs and proteins can get stuck in your teeth-even healthy foods like whole grain cereal or chicken breast.” So follow a meal with a Granny Smith (feel the saliva kick in at the mention of it?) to cleanse the mouth.
Masking techniques. Sugarless gum shouldn’t replace brushing your teeth after a meal, but in a pinch it can freshen breath (masking odors) and is another way to increase saliva production to rinse away plaque and bacteria. Mints can mask as well, but only briefly-and go for sugarless. Sugar creates plaque, and no one wants a mint that makes breath worse.
High C’s. Eating berries, citrus fruits, melons and other vitamin C-rich foods create an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth. A diet rich in vitamin C is also is important for preventing gum disease and gingivitis-both major causes of halitosis. Get your C in foods, not supplements, which can cause gastrointestinal upset in some, according to Sass, and exacerbate bad breath.

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Kill Morning Breath, Just in Time for Valentine's Day

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:00:00 -0800

Do you suffer from morning breath? Don't lie... Everyone does.

What is bad breath anyway? Well at least 90-95% of all bad breath, also known as halitosis, is caused by certain bacteria, or germs, living in your mouth. These bacteria have amino acids that naturally exist in your saliva (and come from foods as well). These amino acids release sulfur gases as by-products and voila, you've got a stinky mouth.

It's rare that I come across oral hygiene products that impress me, mouthwash is mouthwash and toothpaste is toothpaste. However I just read about SmartMouth ($7.99 for 2 x 4 oz bottles), a new mouthwash, has been proven to help eliminate and prevent bad breath 24-hours a day when used regularly, twice a day. SmartMouth works by eliminating existing odors, preventing new odors from forming and creates an environment unfavorable for the bacteria that cause bad breath.

The best part in my opinion? You wake up in the morning without that nasty morning breath. Seriously. Why two bottles? SmartMouth requires that the two active ingredients be mixed together just prior to rinsing, (very high-tech sounding, eh?) but it's kind of annoying if you're low on bathroom space. Buy it online from SmartMouth.com.

Neti Pot Use Could Cause Sinus Problems?

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:15:00 -0800

Pollen and cat fur are not my friends, and when I become so stuffed up I can't smell a thing, I turn to my neti pot. It looks like a little teapot. You fill it with warm salt water, place the spout in one nostril and as the water passes through your nasal passages and comes out the other nostril; it helps get rid of irritants and mucus so you can breathe easier. I know it sounds medieval, but it really works whether I'm stuffed up from smelling flowers or if I have a cold. Last Spring I was happy to hear that science backed up the use of a neti pot to relieve congestion, but I've got some bad news for my fellow neti pot lovers. A new study shows that long-term use of the neti pot can actually cause sinus problems. The study followed 68 people who used their neti for a year, and then took a break for a year. The rate of sinusitis actually dropped by 62 percent in the year that the participants stopped using the neti pot.

Researchers believe that the mucus in your nasal passages acts as a defense against infection, and flushing it away disrupts your body's immune function. They recommend that neti pots be used every once in a while to relieve congestion, but should not be used daily for an extended period of time. If you have issues with constantly being stuffed up, see your doctor so they can help figure out the cause of your congestion and how to treat it.

If you've never heard of a neti pot and want to see how it's used, check out a how-to video when you read more.

Source: Flickr User Thirteen Of Clubs

Gear Review: Ibex Wicking Clothes

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:00:07 -0700

If you're looking for some new wicking gear, then you've got to check out the Balance Seamless Collection made by Ibex. Made from sustainable merino wool and a hint of Spandex, these base layers are soft, stretchy, and flattering. With cooler temperatures heading our way, it is time to think about layering for outdoor exercise.

Pictured on the left is the Balance Sports Top ($59). It has a built-in shelf bra that's great for A through C cup sizes, but only for medium- to low-impact sports. So I wore the Balance Support Bra ($69) underneath for a nice long run. Wearing a bra and top made of wicking material is incredibly comfortable because they pull sweat off your skin and let it breathe; I felt dry and fresh throughout my entire workout. I also love the racerback straps that stayed put on my shoulders. The fabric is seamless, so there weren't any irritating ridges rubbing on my skin. They both fit snugly and contour to your body, keeping everything tight and making you feel supported and strong.

Just when I thought I couldn't be more in love with this bra and top, I looked on the inside and noticed that these words were knitted in the material, "I am sick of four walls and a ceiling. I have a need for the sky. I have business with the grass." Talk about inspiration.

To hear more about the rest of the collection read more.

Check out the pics below to see what other tops and bottoms you can get made of this incredible wicking material. Most of them come in a few different colors so check out the Ibex website for more details. Wicking intimate base layers are a must if you're active because they can prevent rashes, chaffing, and yeast infections. I know these aren't cheap, but isn't your comfort worth it?

View 14 Photos ›

If you want to hear more about fitness gear or share about gear you have, check out the Good Gear/Bad Gear Group.

Pop Quiz: From Fat Cells to Bad Breath

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Nothing like an unexpected quiz to get your heart rate up. If you have been reading FitSugar this week, you will be well-prepared. So test your knowledge and see if you caught all the info.

If you feel like you need a little review, all the answers can be found in this week's posts. Good luck!

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