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Saliva is a very important part of Oral Health. With
regards to the topic at hand, Saliva provides 3
important functions:
1. Provides enzymes to help with digestion of food
2. Provides a method to stabilize the pH (keep the
acid levels in check)
3. Provides high levels of oxygen in order to keep
oral tissues healthy and fresh.
If you suffer from dry mouth (Xerostomia)
symptoms, you naturally have less saliva. In turn,
less saliva means less oxygen. If there is less oxygen
available in the oral environment you have an
anaerobic environment, which is perfect for these
sulfur-producing bacteria. In essence, the bacteria
are now capable of making high levels of sulfur gases,
which in turn make the breath and taste worse.
 We
are the only National Breath Center that includes in
their standard treatment an all natural
Breath
Mint
designed to
stimulate saliva flow AND freshen your
breath. Containing no sugar, aspartame, or saccharin,
this breath lozenge uses its patented zinc/oxygen/xylitol
formula to naturally stimulate the salivary glands to
produce an oxygen-rich type of saliva, which works
extremely well with our Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide
oral rinse and oral gel in order to restrict the
production of the foul-smelling and tasting sulfide
and mercaptan compounds.
It is also true that some tongue formations are also
more conducive to dry mouth than others. Generally,
the rougher one's tongue, the more likely they are to
have a bad breath problem. This is connected to the
belief by some that "bad breath" can be an
inherited trait. Truthfully, one cannot inherit the
bacteria of bad breath, but one can inherit a specific
"shape or geography" of tongue, just as one
would inherit a parent's eye color, hair color,
height, and ear shape.
In the graphic on this page, one sees a deep groove
going down the middle of the tongue; this is known as
a "fissured" tongue and it may lead to a
great deal of the anaerobic bacteria breeding at the
bottom of this fissure, because Oxygen cannot get to
the bottom of the fissure (another reason why tongue
scraping without oxidizing products, is a waste of
time.)
Some people may have a condition known as "hairy
tongue", which again describes the fibers that
make up the tongue (papillae), being slightly longer
than the norm. The longer the papillae, the more rough
the appearance of the tongue and of course the better
to trap the sulfur producing bacteria.
Once the tongue becomes very dry, or if the tongue
becomes abused by extra hard scraping or brushing, the
outer layer becomes very sensitive. One prevalent
condition among older people is "burning tongue
syndrome". It is common among both sexes, but
slightly higher among women. That fact has caused some
scientists to believe that there is a hormonal
component to "burning tongue syndrome". Many
patients who are diabetic, may notice a burning of the
tongue, once they become thirsty. It is important,
when one has these types of symptoms, to stay away
from oral rinses that may burn or make your mouth dry.
The resulting pain is indescribably painful according
to many of my patients.
The standard
recommendation for Burning Tongue Syndrome and Dry
Mouth is the following:
(among patients we have treated)
1. Stop using oral products which make your mouth dry
and/or contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (see list of oral
products at "Oral Products That Create
Halitosis").
2. Stop drinking citrus juices (tomato, orange,
grapefruit, etc.)
3. Avoid coffee
4. Do not smoke
5. See your physician regarding possibility of
Diabetes or Thyroid Problems
Daily Oral Regimen for
Those who Have Burning Tongue Syndrome or Dry Mouth:
a. Coat tongue twice daily with
TheraBreath
ToothGel
and let sit on
tongue for 90 seconds.
b. Rinse with 1-2 capfuls of
Oral
Rinse
for 90
seconds.
c. Drink 8 glasses of water per day.
d. Take Vitamin C on a daily basis as recommended on
label.
Tonsils and Tonsiloliths:
(Those white-yellow globs that get stuck in your
throat).
These bacteria can breed very easily in the back of
the throat, and especially the tonsils (if you have
them.) One important fact to remember: The bacteria
never start off in the throat or tonsils. They only
get there because the "bugs" originate on
the back of the tongue – which contacts the throat
& tonsils EVERY TIME you swallow. When someone has
post nasal drip or allergies, it is possible to form
little "white globs" – scientifically
known as Tonsiloliths. They are a combination of
sulfur compounds (produced by the bacteria) and mucous
(from post nasal drip). Their smell (if you’ve
checked them out) is very STRONG! Do not attempt to
pick them out yourself – you’ll cause a lot of
bleeding. Many dentists and physicians don’t know
what they are – they are not food particles and it
is not the sign of infection. Do not run out and have
a tonsillectomy – because you will still have bad
breath – because the bugs are still on the back of
your tongue. (If you no longer have your tonsils, a
similar reaction takes place if you have had a history
of sore throats – your throat is much rougher).
Here's what an increasing number of my patients have
done to solve this problem: We have recently developed
a concentrated tablet, known as "AktivOxigen
Tabs",
as an addition to our TheraBreath product line. When
added to an 8 oz. bottle of water, the tablet will
create a powerful Oxygenating solution which one can
use as their mouthwash and Gargle. Patients with
tonsils, post nasal drip, or a white coating on their
tongue have told me that if they Drink 4-5 capfuls of
this solution, even their morning breath disappears!
(It's because the oxygenation attacks the bacteria and
their odorous sulfur production on the very back of
the tongue, throat and/or tonsils – which cannot be
reached through any other method.) You can also make a
double strength Solution by adding 2 tablets to the 8
oz. bottle. AktivOxigen
Tabs are
easy to carry around and the resulting Unflavored
solution is also very refreshing!
By Dr. Harold Katz, Founder of The California
Breath Clinics
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