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The
Problem ... Bad Breath ... Why?
In an article published in
the Journal of the American Dental Association (May 1996),
Dr. Mel Rosenberg cites 6 research references in concluding
that:
In 85% of people with bad
breath the bad odor originates in the mouth.
Bad breath from the stomach
is so rare, that of a thousand people treated for bad breath
by a leading halitosis researcher, not a single case was
caused by gastrointestinal problems.
According to consumer
advisor Dr. Richard Price on the Today Show,
the only time the stomach can cause a problem is when you
burp. This is because there are valves to prevent air
escaping and the esophagus is normally closed ('collapsed').
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"So, what causes bad
breath. According to ABC News' medical editor Dr.
Timothy Johnson, "Most bad breath is produced by a type
of bacteria in the backs of our mouths, particularly on
the backs of our tongues - bacteria that thrive on lack
of oxygen."
These bacteria are usually washed away by saliva, but
when they're not they can actually form a kind of
'tongue plaque,' producing foul-smelling gases called
volatile sulfur compounds - that's what we call bad
breath or halitosis," Johnson explained. |
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