Get your tongue around fresh breath

South African lovebirds might find their Valentine's Day dinners ending in an anti-climax due to unromantic bad breath. To prevent the problem dentists and oral hygienists are recommending that South Africans take greater care with their oral hygiene.

A national survey commissioned by Dentyl pH mouthwash found that 89% of respondents thought that they suffered from bad breath at some point and about 40% believed they had it on a daily basis. Despite bad breath being so common, all the respondents said that they felt it was “extremely important” for their partners to have fresh breath and three out of four said bad breath was the worst thing a date or partner could have - worse than dirty nails, stained teeth or bad skin.

Four hundred people aged 18 to 60 across all race groups in greater Cape Town, Durban and Gauteng, completed the questionnaire last year. All agreed that the subject of bad breath was almost taboo: over 80% of those surveyed said they would not tell a work colleague his or her breath smelled, and almost 30% would not even tell a partner.

“Bad breath is certainly widespread,” said Dr Leslie Lang, a Cape Town based dentist and lecturer, “But it can usually be prevented by thorough and regular cleaning of the teeth, gums and tongue.”

“Bad breath is not only antisocial; it can be a symptom of an overpopulation of bacteria in the mouth, which is an indicator of future health problems,” explained Lang. “Studies have shown that bacteria in the mouth can have a negative effect on other parts of the body, and have been implicated in increased risk of heart disease and pregnancy complications. It has been conclusively shown that efficient control of bacteria - by brushing, flossing, cleaning the tongue and using an anti-bacterial mouthwash - will inhibit not only bad breath but minimize possible health risks.”

More than one-third of respondents to the survey admitted to never having flossed their teeth and few used mouthwash, although over 90% brushed their teeth at least once a day.

The world expert on oral malodour, Dr Mel Rosenberg - a microbiology professor at Tel Aviv University's Department of Oral Biology who has been working on the diagnosis and treatment of the condition for 20 years - says that about 85% of bad breath originates in the mouth, most of it caused by poor oral hygiene and resultant gum disease.

“In about seven out of ten cases halitosis is caused by bacteria breaking down postnasal drip, food debris and cells accumulated on the back of the tongue, where conditions are ideal for the bacteria to thrive,” says Dr Rosenberg. He recommends using a plastic tongue cleaner to gently sweep the mucus and debris away and then gargling, ideally with an alcohol-free mouthwash. Although it is normal to experience a gagging reflex when cleaning the tongue Rosenberg says this can be overcome with practice.

Bad breath can also be caused by medical conditions including dysfunctions of the liver or kidney, infections of the bronchi and lungs and certain metabolic diseases, although these cases are rare.

The bacteria that cause bad breath thrive in a dry mouth; saliva is nature's way of washing away the bacteria. Chewing sugarless gum stimulates saliva flow and can be helpful. Because alcohol dries out the mouth products that contain alcohol can exacerbate a bad breath problem, as can certain foods and smoking.

It can be very difficult to tell whether your breath smells bad. The best way to find out is to ask a close friend or family member. If you don't feel comfortable asking for comment, Dr Lang suggests licking the wrist, allowing the saliva to dry “and then give a good sniff. Or run a piece of dental floss between the molars and smell it.” There is an online test available on www.freshbreath.co.za.

Anyone with bad breath should consult their dentist or oral hygienist. Chewing parsley, mint or fennel seeds may also help. For more information on bad breath, visit www.freshbreath.co.za.

During February and National Dentyl pH Fresh Breath Week (1 to 7 February), there will be a free tongue cleaner designed by Dr Mel Rosenberg attached to every 500ml of Dentyl pH mouthwash.