What Can Cause Bad Breath?
Medically known as halitosis, bad breath may be due to a few different causes.1 While everyone’s breath may be a little funky from time to time, especially after eating certain foods, chronic bad breath that doesn’t go away may be an indicator that something is wrong inside your mouth or with another part of your body.1
Some common causes of halitosis include:1
· Dry mouth or the lack of saliva to help wash away bacteria from your mouth
· Cancer of the head or neck may include symptoms like mouth sores and bad breath
· GERD is a digestive disorder where your stomach acid leaks into your esophagus
· Diabetes can increase a person’s risk of gum disease and bad breath
· Pneumonia and other infections of the lungs, nose or throat can cause bad breath
By far, the most common cause of halitosis is a lack of proper oral hygiene.1 Keeping up with dental visits and following the daily protocols of twice-daily brushing can help.1 If you’re not properly taking care of your teeth, you open yourself up to the risk of cavities, gum disease and of course, bad breath.1
How parodontax with Zinc Can Help Fight Your Bad Breath
Neglecting your oral health can result in bad breath.2 When you neglect your oral health, volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) may develop, like hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide, and these usually contribute to bad breath.2
Zinc ions, in combination with other active ingredients, are frequently used in mouthwashes because of their ability to inhibit the growth of VSCs.2 However, there is still research to be done on the efficacy of zinc ions as a standalone ingredient and on other potential causes of halitosis.2
Several studies have focused on zinc ions as an ingredient that works against bad breath, while other metals have not been evaluated specifically for this purpose—despite silver, iron and copper being used in tooth restorations due to their antimicrobial nature.2 Additionally, the effect of zinc on the growth of bacteria in the mouth is dependent on the strain of the bacteria.2
Despite these limitations, it can be concluded that zinc as an ingredient in oral care products has an inhibitory effect on volatile sulfur compounds, making it effective for treating halitosis caused by certain bacteria.2
Using parodontax with Zinc to Treat Bad Breath
Look for a specialized toothpaste or mouthwash to help reverse the early signs of gingivitis and neutralize and purify the gasses that lead to bad breath.
Start a new oral care routine by brushing twice a day with parodontax Active Gum Repair Breath Freshener Toothpaste, which includes stannous fluoride for your teeth and zinc to help freshen your breath. Add to your regimen with parodontax Active Gum Repair Breath Freshener Mouthwash, which helps to kill bacteria at the gumline and includes zinc to help freshen breath.
Don’t let bad breath keep you from enjoying yourself. Take care of your teeth and gums and get back to living your best life without worry of halitosis.
Source Citations:
1. Bad Breath (Halitosis). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17771-bad-breath-halitosis. Accessed 6/13/23.
2. Two mechanisms of oral malodor inhibition by zinc ions. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5777415/. Accessed 6/13/23.
