The Truth About Bad Breath & What the Symptoms Mean by Dr. Harold Katz, Founder of The California Breath Clinics Bad breath is caused by Anaerobic Sulfur Producing Bacteria which normally live WITHIN the surface of the tongue and in the throat. These bacteria are supposed to be there, because they assist humans in digestion by breaking down proteins found in specific foods, mucous or phlegm, blood, and in diseased or "broken-down" oral tissue. Under certain conditions, these bacteria start to break down proteins at a very high rate. Proteins are made up of Amino Acids. Two of the Amino Acids (Cysteine and Methionine) are dense with sulfur.  When these "beneficial" bacteria come into contact with these compounds, the odorous and "lousy-tasting" sulfur compounds are released from the back of the tongue and throat, as Hydrogen Sulfide, Methyl Mercaptan, and other odorous and bad tasting compounds. These "problem" compounds are often referred to as Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSC), where volatile means Vaporous and Effervescent, two adjectives which accurately describe their ability to offend other people instantly. Because my original degree is in Bacteriology, let me explain a very important fact about these "bugs". They are not "bad guys" - they are not infectious. Everyone in the world has the same group of bacteria in their mouth. You cannot "catch" bad breath from someone else - even by kissing. Since they are part of our normal oral flora, you cannot permanently remove them from your mouth - not by tongue scraping, not by antibiotics, and not by rinses which claim to "lift the bacteria off your tongue". The only scientifically proven and clinically effective method of halting Halitosis is by attacking the bacteria's ability to produce VSC and by converting the VSC into non-odorous and non-tasting organic salts. (I should know, I've personally treated nearly 10,000 people at my California Breath Clinics and I've helped thousands more through my TheraBreath formulas. Take a look at a small fraction of testimonial letters to see What Doesn't Work!) Speaking about bacteria, there is one other fact that you must understand about these bacteria. They are classified as "Anaerobic" - which literally means "Without Oxygen". They thrive in an environment where Oxygen is NOT present. That is why they DO NOT LIVE ON THE SURFACE OF YOUR TONGUE! They live in between the papillae (fibers) that make up your tongue! A Microscopic "Slice" through the tongue:  These sulfur compounds are actually by-products of anaerobic bacteria (Fusobacterium and Actinomyces, among others). Everyone needs these bacteria, because they assist the digestion process. But, unfortunately, for some, as yet undetermined reason these particular bacteria are found in higher numbers in those anguished by Bad Breath. (Various theories attribute this to hormonal changes, a history of medications, usually antibiotics or sulfa drugs-which create an imbalance of oral bacteria, or even Genetics-these disorders appear to run in some families.) We do know however, that it seems to be evenly split between men and women.
Conditions under which the problem becomes worse:
DRY MOUTH
Although some cases of dry mouth are naturally occurring, most cases are caused by one of these factors; prescription medications (usually prescribed for high blood pressure or depression) antihistamines, adult beverages, and mouthwashes with alcohol in them. (see "Why Regular Products Don't Work")
When your mouth is dryer, you have less Saliva. Saliva naturally contains Oxygen, which keeps your mouth healthy and fresh. These bacteria are anaerobic, which simply means that they will thrive and make more sulfur in the presence of little or no oxygen. Thus if you have less Saliva, you have less oxygen, thereby creating an anaerobic environment, perfect for the bacteria to produce more of these odorous and sour/bitter compounds.
POST NASAL DRIP
We know that proteins contain amino acids, which in turn contain sulfur compounds (see text above). When a person has a post nasal drip, mucus drains and coats the back of the tongue and throat, exactly where bacteria live (see diagram above). Since mucus is made up of interlinked strands of protein, the bacteria have a field day, breaking down these proteins into odorous and sour tasting sulfur type compounds. Strong Antihistamines don't help, because the drying effect of the antihistamines also creates a problem. The only method of ending the odor and taste are to use Oxyd-VIII based oral products. What about the sinuses? After personally treating nearly 9,000 people worldwide, I have yet to see a patient get rid of his bad breath following sinus surgery. First of all, these anaerobic bacteria cannot live in the sinuses. When someone has a sinus infection, one of the common symptoms are intense sinus headaches, caused by the pressure from the infection in the sinus. If you don't have these powerful headaches, you probably don't have a sinus problem. The fact is that once someone has an elevated amount of these anaerobic bacteria, they will create the problem from any protein source, including mucous, phlegm, etc, which drain down the back of your throat into the area where these bacteria live.
HIGH PROTEIN FOODS
These bacteria love those proteins, and certain foods are packed with them:
Milk and Cheese and most other dairy products. (The fat content does not matter.) If you are lactose intolerant, do not eat or drink these products! Since your system cannot digest them properly, they are available to the bacteria for an extended period of time. A recent research article from the Los Angeles Times (November 1996) on lactose intolerance showed that nearly 67% of all Americans can be classified as "Lactose Intolerant". This is due to the fact that in a diverse population such as we have here, there is a predilection for Asians, Hispanics, and African-Americans to be lactose intolerant.
Fish are high in proteins. As many people eat a high fish diet, logically they make the problem worse.
Coffee with caffeine (and even without) contains high levels of acids which cause the bacteria to reproduce more rapidly and create a bitter taste for many people. (Virtually any acidic type of food will do this.)
Coffee drinking was one of the problems that my patients used to have. After starting my treatment, they have been able to go back to coffee drinking (in moderation of course) without any bitter tastes afterward. What Works?
Oxyd-VIII is the active ingredient in Dr. Katz's products. It prevents the anaerobic bacteria from creating the odorous sulfide and Mercaptan compounds by "adding oxygen" to the environment. The end result is the formation of a "Sulfate", which has no odor or taste.
 The Halimeter  When people come to the California Breath Clinics seeking help for their bad breath, the first thing Dr. Katz does is read their Anaerobic Sulfur Producing Bacteria level. This is done on a machine called the "Halimeter". People are asked to blow into a straw that is attached to the tube (seen here).
The Halimeter is able to measure the concentration of the Sulfide Molecules in bad breath and determine if indeed someone has Halitosis. The borderline reading is about 75 ppb (parts per billion), based on a study done in the early 1990's in Japan. After smelling various concentrations of sulfide compounds, a group of test subjects agreed that they started to smell unpleasant odors at the 75 ppb mark. The other significant reading is 120, the point at which everyone in the study agreed there was a disagreeable odor.
Dr. Katz has used these "proven" readings to test thousands of people at his Clinics, and others in Europe during his visits to London. The Halimeter is also used to the efficacy of TheraBreath vs. other so-called "breath-refreshing" compounds. The Halimeter is the basic instrument in testing bad breath. You should question your dentist if they attempt to determine your breath disorder status, without a Halimeter. It is the most basic way to determine if a problem exists. A professional who "tests" your breath by attempting to smell your exhaled air, is doing you a disservice.
 pH is a term used to describe the acidity of the environment. (see table) The oral cavity has a normal pH of 6.5 (7 is neutral) which is in the acid range. We know that acids make the bacteria reproduce much faster. In order to decrease the production of odorous sulfur compounds, we need to neutralize the acid environment. Our products are the only ones to be pH balanced in such a manner to do this most effectively. That is why our products do not leave a strange aftertaste like our competitors products. As one patient recently told me: "I'm so glad I found your products. The taste of (a competitorıs product) was worse than having the problem." Another dentist told me that his patients complain about the taste of my competitor's products. He's heard them describe the flavor as "tasting like vomit!" Why brushing and scraping your tongue without our products doesn't work!!
These bacteria are anaerobic (which means they cannot live near oxygen). All humans have oxygen in their oral cavity when they breathe. But since these bacteria cannot live on the surface of the tongue (remember the oxygen kills them off), they have buried themselves deep between the papillae (the fibers) that make up your tongue. That is why scraping and brushing your tongue with standard toothpaste and mouthwash don't work!! You are missing the bacteria totally. The white coating on the tongue is a collection of sulfides that come to the surface. It is not the bacteria! The bacteria are much farther down and cannot be removed physically. Why Antibiotics don't work (and can actually make the problem worse!)
The bacteria involved in this problem are not infectious bacteria. They are actually beneficial bacteria which are assisting us in digestion. If antibiotics specifically for this group are used , the problem will go away (for about two days)...but your body will sense that they are missing, and will then create resistant strains of the same bacteria, and the problems will come back.
If your doctor persists on making you use antibiotics for bad breath and sour tastes, you should be aware that you may end up with an oral yeast infection. This is due to the fact that you will be creating an imbalance of your normal oral bacterial level, which allows yeast, funguses, etc. to enter and give you disorders such as Thrush (Candidiasis). Ask for a second opinion if your doctor pushes you to take too many antibiotics, or for a long period of time.
Bad Breath is Not Your Typical Oral Hygiene Problem: I would like to make the next point very clear. This is typically NOT AN ORAL HYGIENE PROBLEM. As many of you know personally, you can brush and floss perfectly 6-7 times daily and STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. (I know that your family dentist may tell you otherwise). For those of you who have suffered needlessly for years and years, you most likely go out of your way to have excellent hygiene habits. Furthermore, roughly 35% of patients that I have personally treated in California have undergone surgical or scaling treatments by Periodontists without any relief. (Please understand, brushing and flossing are important with regards to periodontal health...you need to keep them clean so that your teeth remain in good condition. It just is not the major cause of bad breath.) The problem with constant brushing and flossing has to do with the lousy ingredients in oral products and how they can actually make your breath worse. (see Other Oral Products)
Contrary to what you have learned in the past and are probably currently hearing in commercials for ineffective "breath capsules", BAD BREATH DOES NOT COME FROM THE STOMACH, except in extremely rare instances due to a weakening of muscles that line the esophagus. ( To give you an indication, I have seen two of these cases out of nearly 10,000 patients.) Odor-causing Bacteria, located on the back surface of your tongue, on the roof of your mouth, in your throat, and in some cases on the surface of your tonsils, if still present [which may produce white odorous globules called Tonsiloliths], are the real source of the problem. That is why your tongue may be discolored from rosy pink to a whitish color.) No one knows how the unfortunate myth of "the stomach as the cause of bad breath" began, but it has postponed proper treatment to millions of sufferers for many years. Some of you have even undergone unnecessary medical & dental procedures, including unwarranted painful & costly surgeries to terminate a condition that affects both your business & personal life. From these experiences, we also realized that Bad Breath and its related disorders are not caused by the sinuses, or lung diseases.
Because we developed our techniques and procedures after clinical trials on our own family members, we know that we have the most effective and safest treatment to conquer and control Chronic Bad Breath. It does not involve any injections or surgery of any type and is completely painless. Your Medical/Dental problem is shared by an estimated 20% of the World's population. Using the combined experience of 61 years in Medicine, Dentistry, Bacteriology, and Biology, we have established The California Breath Clinics, based on the most current research in these fields. This data has shown that 98% of all cases of Chronic Bad Breath originate in the MOUTH (NOT IN THE STOMACH, SINUSES, OR LUNGS).
A few of the common of the signs of this misunderstood problem are: | | High levels of Postnasal Drip or mucous in the throat. (This doesn't cause the problem, but actually makes it worse, because these bacteria prefer to break down proteins (which have high levels of sulfur content). Mucous is high in proteins.
| Dryness in the mouth, extreme morning breath, or evidence of thicker saliva. (Saliva naturally contains oxygen. The drier your mouth or the thicker your saliva, the lower your oxygen level in your mouth. Therefore, you create an anaerobic environment, perfect for these bacteria.)
| An increase in bad breath, following foods, mouthwashes, during the menstrual cycle or other hormonal therapies (estrogen, progesterone, etc.). Essentially humans are walking chemistry labs: food, alcohol, hormones, etc.. as chemicals to stimulate the bacteria.
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