Bad Breath

  Do you ever find yourself talking to someone who has something to say that you really want to hear, but you can't concentrate on what that person is saying because his or her breath is bad?  Americans spend millions of dollars a year on mouthrinses or toothpastes or "Tic-Tacs" to avoid offensive mouth odors.           Bad breath comes from several sources: stomach  problems too numerous to mention can emit gases that escape through the mouth- for these you need to see a physician.  Old food left in the mouth actually rots and of course smells bad.  Bacteria in the mouth also emit bad-smelling gases- most often a sulfur compound.           What to do:  brush thoroughly (not vigorously) and often, including the cheeks and the very back of the tongue  (keep the debris moving).  Keep your mouth moist.  Water, of course, is the great cleanser.  Lozenges smell good and stimulate saliva flow, which obviously are a moistener and cleaner.  Some mouthrinses contain chlorine dioxide, which kills the odor-producing bacteria.  Other mouth rinses just mask the bad odor, or even have alcohol in them, which further dries the mouth.           Periodontal disease makes for bad breath also.  This infection is the result of chronic gum inflammation, which is caused by inadequate oral care.  It can and will lead to deterioration of the boney socket in which the tooth is situated, which can lead to premature tooth loss if not treated appropriately.  For this you need to see a dentist.          For this you need to see a dentist.