Bad breath: removing the guesswork

DON'T

• Don't let your concern about having bad breath ruin your life. Don't be passive
  
• Don't be depressed. Get help. Don't ignore your gums - you can lose your teeth
  
• Don't forget to clean behind the back teeth in each row
  
• Don't brush your tongue with regular toothpaste - it's better to dip your toothpaste in mouthwash for tongue cleaning. Don't clean your tongue so hard it hurts
  
• Don't run to the gastro-enterologist for concerns of having bad breath - it usually comes from the mouth and rarely from the stomach.
  
• Don't give mouthwash to young children, as they can swallow it.
  
• Don't rely on mouthwash alone - practice complete oral hygiene as advised by your dentist.
  

Bad breath is one personal health problem that is often underestimated for the adverse impact it can have on people's lives.
Not only is it a serious social handicap, but it can compromise career opportunities, removes the enjoyment of intimacy from a relationship, and lowers the confidence and self-esteem of the sufferer.

And up until very recently, this horror condition, that approximately 95 per cent of the population have at some time, and up to one third suffer from chronically, remained undetectable to those who had it, whilst being unbearable for everyone around them.

However, ongoing research and development into the issue by leading international home health company, Tanita, has led to the creation of a new battery-powered sensor called Fresh Kiss, that accurately, quickly and discretely measures the presence of breath odours, meaning it no longer need be a problem.

Within just five seconds, this tiny, elegant device can reveal the level of sulphur compounds in your mouth that cause bad breath. All you need to do is give a quick blow, and depending on the amount measured, the sensor displays a reading of one to four, that is, from no odour to slight, moderate or strong.

There are numerous causes of bad breath, and contrary to popular belief, less than 10 per cent of cases are from offending foods and tobacco. The majority actually comes from anaerobic bacteria buried in the tissues in the tongue or at the back of the throat which release the offending compounds.

Dr Geoffrey Speiser of The Australian Fresh Breath Agency, said Fresh Kiss is the first consumer device that can measure whether you have halitosis.

"Within a few moments, Fresh Kiss gives an accurate and independent assessment of your breath odour, allowing you to address any problems"; he said.

Concern about breath freshness is on the rise in Australia with the introduction of bad breath treatment centres and specialist products, as well as the creation of an international conference for practitioners and specialists to study the problem of oral behaviour.

The following list contains recommendations if you find you do not score too well on the Fresh Kiss sensor:

Fresh Kiss costs $85 and can be purchased on-line at http://www.freshkiss.com.au or by calling 1800 82 64 82.

DO

• Visit your dentist regularly, brush your teeth and gums properly and have your teeth cleaned periodically by a dental professional
  
• Floss regularly using an un-scented floss so that you can detect those areas between your teeth that give off odours, and clean them more carefully
  
• Ask your dentist to recommend a tongue cleaner and clean your tongue all the way to the back, gently but thoroughly
  
• Use a mouthwash that has been clinically proven to be effective in fighting against bad breath
  
• Drink plenty of water but not too much tea, coffee, red wine, or other liquids that can stain, and clean your mouth after eating or drinking milk products, and meat
  
• Chew sugar-free gum, especially if your mouth feels dry. Chewing parsley, mint, cloves or fennel seeds may also help
  
• Take control of the problem. Use your Tanita Fresh Kiss to keep yourself reliably informed about the condition of your breath - and then treat it properly.
  

Fresh Kiss costs $85 and can be purchased on-line at http://www.freshkiss.com.au or by calling 1800 82 64 82.