I worked part-time at an insurance agency during my first couple years of college, and my boss had hands down the most horrible bad breath I’ve ever encountered.   

She would get close to me as she was explaining things to me during training, and swear I thought I was going to puke on several occasions.  

So it’s no wonder that bad breath ranks right up there in terms of common fears people have! 

If you doubt what I’m saying, just look in the oral care aisle in most grocery stores or pharmacies.  You’ll see an ocean of toothpastes, rinses and mouthwashes, all promising to sweeten your breath. 

The problem is, using mouthwash or toothpaste for bad breath is like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg.  Sure, your mouth might feel fresh for a while, but unless you determine why you are “seeing your breath in the summer,” it will continue to gag those around you.     

Let’s look at some of the common as well as little-known causes of halitosis and how you can truly sweeten up your breath. 

Start with the mouth…and move south 

Although many people have a foul-smelling mouth first thing in the morning, and foods like onions and garlic can give you temporary bad breath, what I’m talking about here is regular, chronic halitosis—at all times of the day. 

Halitosis is most commonly caused by dental issues such as inadequate dental hygiene (listen up, all you people who hate to floss), a tooth infection, or gum problems (including gingivitis and periodontal disease).  

It can also be the result of sinus or tonsil issues.   

But what most people don’t realize is that halitosis can also start further down in your GI tract! 

That’s right—bad breath can be caused by: 

• H. pylori infection in the stomach 
• Low stomach acid production 
• Imbalanced microbiome/Candida overgrowth 
• Pancreatic insufficiency  
• Constipation (Please don’t ask me to elaborate on that one) 

How to sweeten your oral emissions  

The key to getting rid of bad breath is to figure out what might be behind your “offensive odor” and DO something about it! 

Here are some measures you can try: 

Start with your mouth 

The first place to start is with a dental check-up.  Your dentist can determine if you have a tooth problem, gingivitis or periodontal disease, and set up the proper treatment plan. 

You also have to do YOUR part too—and that means regular brushing and FLOSSING!   

In addition, you should consider removing any amalgam (silver) fillings you may have and replacing them with composites, and here’s why: 

Contrary to what most people believe, “silver” amalgam fillings are only silver in color—they actually contain 50 percent mercury. 

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin which not only can cause brain damage but also make you more susceptible to periodontal disease—which causes bad breath!   

Studies have shown that once amalgam fillings are removed, several mouth problems can be eliminated or vastly improved!  

The key here is you need to locate a dentist who is experienced in amalgam removal.  Check out mercury-free dentists in your area. 

Nourish your teeth 

The health of ALL your body parts (including your teeth!) depends on you getting a consistent supply of essential vitamins and minerals. 

There’s no way around it—you cannot exist on processed junk, fast food and soda and expect to have healthy teeth and gums. 

Concentrate on eating REAL foods—meats, poultry, wild-caught fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, eggs, full-fat dairy, whole grains and healthy fats like butter and olive oil.  Ditch the processed garbage and drive by the drive-thru. 

Consider any ENT issues 

If you get repeated sore throats, strep throat, tonsillitis or sinus infections, it’s a good idea to get checked out by an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor just to make sure there are no problems brewing.   

Explore your southern hemisphere 

As I mentioned above, H. pylori infection, low stomach acid and pancreatic insufficiency can ALL cause bad breath. 

If you suspect any of these may be an issue for you, see your doctor and get the appropriate tests.  Hint: if you regularly suffer from bloating, acid reflux, belching, burping and can play the Star-Spangled Banner with your flatulence, it’s pretty likely you have some kind of digestive issue going on. 

If you feel you are running short on stomach acid or pancreatic enzymes, a complete digestive enzyme formula like Digestizol Max can be a Godsend and support your body where it may be lacking.   

Digestizol Max’s thorough blend of 15 plant-derived enzymes can help your body carry out digestion like it’s supposed to…and that means goodbye gas, bloating and heartburn for you!  

Also, if H. pylori infection is an issue for you, the mastic gum in our Gastro BeCalm Blend has been shown to counteract and even kill H. Pylori!  Plus the other herbs in the formula (licorice root, ginger and marshmallow root) help ease occasional indigestion and quiet a cranky GI tract. 

Look even further south 

An unhealthy gut microbiome is a common culprit behind bad breath…and a good number of digestive problems too (including constipation)! 

A typical healthy gut microbiome should be comprised of at least 85 percent beneficial bacteria and 15 percent or less harmful microbes. 

Problem is, with our processed diets, love for soda, high levels of stress and heavy reliance on medications (all of which disrupt the microbiome), many of us are walking around with gut bacterial balances the exact opposite of what they should be! 

In addition to eating nourishing fiber-rich real foods, it’s important to help maintain a healthy population of beneficial bacteria through probiotic supplementation.  Because contrary to what most people think, your friendly gut bacteria are not “permanent residents”—they only “vacation” inside of you for about 12 days. 

So you need to constantly make sure their numbers are strong and counteract what may be harming them! 

For a probiotic that’s up to this crucial challenge, nothing beats our Super Shield PLUS multi-strain probiotic formula!   

Super Shield PLUS’s full-spectrum blend of 15 well-studied, potent probiotic strains and 20 billion CFUs is ready to provide the support you desperately need and help ensure your gut microbiome stays in a healthy state.  

Get to the bottom of what’s causing your bad breath now and you’ll certainly have something to smile about!  (And so will everyone around you.) 

To your health, 

Sherry Brescia