0 items ($0.00)
Please wait...
ARTICLESFeb 16, 2012
April 2013 (7)
March 2013 (7)
February 2013 (8)
January 2013 (6)
December 2012 (8)
November 2012 (10)
October 2012 (12)
September 2012 (7)
August 2012 (6)
July 2012 (12)
June 2012 (14)
May 2012 (13)
April 2012 (12)
March 2012 (12)
February 2012 (13)
January 2012 (13)
December 2011 (11)
November 2011 (11)
October 2011 (12)
September 2011 (8)
August 2011 (16)
July 2011 (20)
June 2011 (14)
May 2011 (19)
April 2011 (20)
March 2011 (11)
February 2011 (24)
January 2011 (22)
December 2010 (31)
November 2010 (5)
October 2010 (18)
September 2010 (10)
August 2010 (16)
July 2010 (15)
Spongebob Squarepants, a cartoon that has addressed everything from swearing to weightlifting to ninja-fighting, is no stranger to the topic of halitosis. An episode that originally aired on Nickelodeon in 2000 dealt with bad breath and the consequences of eating aromatic foods.
Called "Something Smells," the episode sees Spongebob in need of an ice cream sundae. Since he happens to have no ice cream available, the naive sea sponge creates an ersatz sundae using ketchup, onions and peanuts. After eating it, his breath is so bad that it is visible as a green miasma around his head and mouth.
While such a meal is pretty unlikely in real life, the principle holds up. Certain foods can leave aromatic compounds in the mouth that continue to give off a smell long after a meal has been ingested. Onions are a prime example. Peanuts may also cause bad breath.
In the episode, people's reactions to the odor are also instructive. Friends and total strangers run away screaming, but no one directly tells Spongebob that he has bad breath. In reality, this is often the case.
Since information from others can be unreliable, the best treatments for bad breath occur daily. Avoiding smelly foods, brushing thoroughly and rinsing with a specialty breath freshening product are all effective ways to prevent halitosis.
