Bad breath glossary of terms

Acid reflux

Acid reflux is also known as heartburn or GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease). It is a medical disease where stomach acid flows back up from the stomach and into the upper intestines and the esophagus.

Anaerobic

Anaerobic means without oxygen. The word is used on this website to describe bacteria that is able to live without oxygen.

Bad breath

Bad breath is caused by anaerobic bacteria that live below the surface of the tongue, in the throat and tonsils. The bacteria produces sulfur in the mouth that makes your breath smell bad. Halitosis, oral malodor and breath odor are other words used to describe noticeably unpleasant odors exhaled in breathing.

Bacteria

Bacteria are very small single cell living organisms called mircoorganisms. They are found in every environmental area on earth, and they are vital in recycling nutrients.

Chronic

Chronic is a medical term used to describe a disease that is long lasting or recurrent usually lasting more than 3 months.

Dry mouth

Dry mouth is also called Xerostomia. Dry mouth is caused by a lack of saliva. This lack of saliva and can be a cause of bad breath.

Home remedies

A home remedy is a treatment to cure a disease. Common home remedies are spices, vegetables and other natural remedies such as lemon, mint leaves and parsley.

Low carb diet

A low carb diet is a diet low in carbohydrates. There are many types of low carbohydrate diets, some limiting the overall amount of carbohydrate and others that focuses on certain types of carbohydrates that have a high effect on the blood glucose levels.

Oxyd-8

Oxyd-8 is an oxygenating compound used to get rid of anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath.

Probiotics

Probiotics are microorganisms containing good bacteria used as dietary supplements and are often recommended by nutritionists to help the body maintain a healthy gut flora.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis (or periodontal disease) means around tooth inflammation. It is family of inflammatory gum diseases caused by bacterial infections and can lead to loss of teeth.

Tongue scrapers

A tongue scraper or a tongue cleaner is an oral hygiene device used to remove bacteria from the surface of the tongue. Research has shown that most cases of bad breath originates from bacteria on the tongue, which makes tongue cleaners effective in eliminating bad breath.

Tonsils

Tonsils are two stones consisting of lymphoid tissue found on each side of the throat.

Sulfur

Sulfur is the white coating on your tongue caused by anaerobic bacteria.

Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral and a common ingredient in many bad breath remedies because it can prevent the production of bad breath causing sulfur.