Bad breath occurs in all creatures great and small

Whether you are a farmer or farm animal, a human, hog, horse or hen, you are likely to suffer from bad breath at some point in your life. One of the primary differences between livestock and those that tend to them is that the latter can at least do something about their own halitosis.

A case in point can be found in a recent article published by the magazine Smallholder, a periodical written by and for owners and operators of small farms. Veterinarian Richard Jackson, who specializes in small fowl, states that chickens can occasionally get severe oral odor, usually due to an illness.

He notes that the crop, or wattle found at the base of a chicken's throat, is usually involved, since this bit of the bird's anatomy is where food begins to be digested. Other than a blockage in this pouch, the most common cause of bad chicken breath is a condition known as "sour crop."

This illness is essentially thrush for chickens, since it is caused by the same sorts of bacteria that cause oral yeast infections among humans. Jackson notes that the smell of sour crop is memorable, "one that, once experienced, you will never forget!"

While chickens can do little about it - other than running around like their heads are cut off - people can prevent oral bacteria growth by using an oral care probiotics treatment once a day as a way to ward off the multiplication of harmful microbes.

A number of studies have indicated that probiotic products can have this effect on Candida albicans, the bacterium responsible for thrush, as well as on dozens of other microorganisms known for their contributions to halitosis.

Take a 2007 survey of dental literature, published in the journal Oral Diseases. Researchers from Finland's University of Helsinki and Bulgaria's Medical University on Plovdiv noted that at least one scientific investigation links oral probiotics to reductions in C. albicans in elderly people.

They also noted that numerous studies suggest a connection between probiotics use and the prevention of cavities. This is due mainly to the product's suppression of Streptococcus mutans, the microbe that is mainly responsible for causing cavities.

Left unchecked, C. albicans and S. mutans can lead to tooth decay, coated tongue, gingivitis, periodontal disease and, of course, epic bad breath.

By recommending oral care probiotics, dentists are looking out for your smile and your smell all at once.