The IAA One Minute Blog

When it comes to persistent bad breath, the types of probiotic bacteria found in fermented foods may help ease the odor, a new study suggests.

Bad Breath Study

An analysis of previous studies revealed that certain bacteria taken as supplements could help freshen a person’s breath, according to the report.

A major cause of persistent bad breath is gaseous blends of sulfur and other elements, known as volatile compounds, that are produced by mouth bacteria, the researchers noted.

To take a closer look at whether probiotic bacteria might help manage bad breath, the researchers scoured medical literature for studies on the topic. They found seven clinical trials that involved a total of 278 people ages 19 to 70.

Bad breath severity in the trials was assessed by measurements of the compounds detected in the mouth, along with a score that indicated how strong the bad breath odors were at various distances from the mouth.

When researchers pooled the data from the seven studies, they found the compounds that are linked to smelly breath declined significantly in participants who consumed probiotics, compared to those who were given placebos.

The study was published in “BMJ Open.”

Causes of bad Breath

Bad breath or halitosis is the third most common disease for patient referral to the dentist. It only comes behind cavities and periodontal disease.

Bad breath odors vary, depending on the source or the underlying cause. Causes of bad breath include:

• Diseases and disorders: Diseases and conditions such as metabolic disorders can cause a distinctive breath odor as a result of chemicals they produce.
• Dry mouth: Saliva helps cleanse your mouth, removing particles that cause bad odors. Dry mouth can contribute to bad breath because production of saliva is decreased.
• Food: The breakdown of food particles in and around your teeth can increase bacteria and cause a foul odor. Eating certain foods such as onions, garlic and spices, can also cause bad breath. After you digest these foods, they enter your bloodstream, are carried to your lungs and affect your breath.
• Infections in your mouth: Bad breath can be caused by surgical wounds after oral surgery or as a result of tooth decay, gum disease or mouth sores.
• Medications: Some medications can indirectly produce bad breath by contributing to dry mouth. Others can be broken down in the body to release chemicals that can be carried on your breath.
• Other mouth, nose and throat conditions: Bad breath can occasionally stem from small stones that form in the tonsils and are covered with bacteria that produce odor. Infections or chronic inflammation in the nose, sinuses or throat, which can contribute to postnasal drip, can also cause bad breath.
• Poor dental hygiene: If you don’t brush or floss daily, food particles remain in your mouth, causing bad breath.
• Tobacco products: Smoking causes its own unpleasant mouth odor. Smokers and oral tobacco users are also more likely to have gum disease, another source of bad breath.

In many cases you can improve bad breath with consistent proper dental hygiene.

What IAA has to Say

Insurance Administrator of America wants you to keep up with your dental hygiene! IAA knows that a healthy mouth contributes to your overall health.