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Dr. Katz gives you a friendly bad breath tip. Stay tuned for bad breath tips once a week.

Do not brush your teeth in a hurry. Brushing your teeth two minutes every time will do wonders for your breath.

Does Dr. Harold Katz have a brother we don’t know about? Dr. Herbert, er, Harold Katz is interviewed by radio host Mike Carruthers of Telegram.com.

Mike Carruthers:

Admit it; you worry about bad breath — so do a lot of people.

Dr. Herbert Katz:

About a third of the population has bad breath severe enough where they seek assistance from their physician, their dentist or a pharmacist.Many people for a number of years thought that bad breath comes from the digestive system, from the stomach — and that’s an unfortunate myth. Almost all bad breath comes from bacteria, which live within the back of the tongue, the throat and tonsil area. These are bacteria you’re suppose to have, but under certain conditions (particularly when your mouth is dry) they start to over-produce what are called volatile sulfur compounds. But, for certain people that concentration is severe enough where someone next to them on a plane or at school can smell that.

M.C.: Ironically, Dr. Katz says that many of the products that are suppose to help the problem actually make it worse.

H.K.: Most commercial mouthwash is full of alcohol. Alcohol makes the mouth very dry — any time your mouth is more dry, your breath will become worse. So, by overdoing mouthwashes you’re actually making your breath worse instead of better.

M.C.: And by the way, blowing into your hand and smelling is a lousy way to test for your own bad breath.

H.K.: It’s a great way to smell your hand but there’s a process in your brain called acclamation where you get used to your own odor. So a simple way to test it is to actually lick the back of your hand and let that dry for a few seconds and then smell that.

Complete interview not available.

Mark Steyn makes a short commentary in The National Review on yet another new piece of bad breath information by Dr. Harold Katz. (09/27 08:15 AM)

You learn something every day. I just got a press release headlined “Foul Fall Bad Breath Season Is Here”. Apparently, according to the world’s foremost bad breath expert, Dr. Harold Katz of the California Breath Clinics, this affliction is seasonal:

“As the temperatures drop and more time is spent inside, people with bad breath have nowhere to safely exhale.”

This sounds like something we need Congressional hearings on. In a low-ceilinged windowless room.

09/27 08:15 AM

Barry Fox of The Patriot News writes about Dr. Katz and bad breath.

Tuesday September 25, 2007, 5:41 PM

Halitosis is perhaps the least talked about plagues on humanity.

Better known as bad breath it’s the scourge of any close talking situation.

WGAL-TV Channel 8, however, provides hope with a lengthy report on how icky bacteria breeding in your mouth are conspiring against you.

If you’re a sufferer, the American Dental Association is an excellent source of help.

And, if you’re looking for the freshest breath in America – as determined by dentist-bacteriologist Harold Katz, the author of “The Bad Breath Bible,” and a device he calls the “Halimeter” — look no further than Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Katz, who is on a nationwide “bad breath mission tour” gets down to the basics of bad breath with Vicky Hallett of Read Express.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING for someone to kiss, try the streets of Columbus, Ohio. That’s what dentist-bacteriologist Harold Katz says, anyway. Armed with a device called a Halimeter, the author of “The Bad Breath Bible” is touring the nation to give out gold stars or break the news that, yes, that odor is completely offensive. The current standings have the Midwestern city as the country’s fresh-breath front-runner. To prepare our city for his impending arrival (although the date isn’t scheduled yet), Katz has some tips on making mouths more fragrant.

» EXPRESS: Are people aware of how stinky their breath is?
» KATZ: No, people don’t know they have bad breath. Their brains get used to their odors.

» EXPRESS: So, what causes bad breath?
» KATZ: A dry mouth is the number one cause. People don’t drink enough water to replenish their saliva, and many mouthwashes are full of alcohol, which just dries mouths out more. The teeth have very little to do with it — it comes from bacteria in the back of the throat. The odor you smell in bad breath comes from anaerobic sulphur-producing bacteria, so it stays away from oxygen.

» EXPRESS: But can’t you scrape your tongue?
» KATZ: That does help somewhat, but people who use traditional toothpaste to do it are making their tongues dry, and you don’t want to keep the tongue dry.

» EXPRESS: Garlic can impact breath, but are any foods surprising?
» KATZ: We recommend that if you go to a party that you look for things that are juicy, like fruits. Dairy foods are a big problem because they contain proteins that can break down and smell.

» EXPRESS: Do breath mints help?
» KATZ: Not much, especially if it contains sugar. The way you grow bacteria in a lab is to give it sugar.

» EXPRESS: I hear you’ve worked with celebrities. Any good stories?
» KATZ: I can’t name names, but I treated a singer who had a lounge act. The people at the front tables would go to the back of the room. Also, smokers and drinkers end up with bad breath, so actors have major issues with kissing scenes.

» EXPRESS: How do you politely tell someone they have foul breath?
» KATZ: We have a tell-a-friend program [on the Web site Therabreath.com]. They’ll get an e-mail explaining what bad breath is all about. We’re not here to insult them.

» EXPRESS: Can bad breath be a sign of something more than dry mouth?
» KATZ: Quite often we talk about this as a funny thing, but there’s a strong link to illness when you have those high levels of sulphur. It means you’re susceptible to gum disease. Once gums are puffy and bleeding, that’s a chronic infection. There’s a higher incidence of heart attacks and strokes. Signs that things are out of balance could lead to serious consequences.

» EXPRESS: Any other breath-freshening tips for our readers?
» KATZ: Drinking a six-pack of beer is not the same as drinking water. And we highly recommend flossing. It’s one of these things people avoid, but in those crevices is where the bacteria are hiding from oxygen. Also, certain medications — anti-histamines, anti-depressants — can make the mouth dry. So, people who never had bad breath might get it with a new prescription.

» EXPRESS: I know you haven’t tested D.C. breath yet, but any thoughts on how politicians will do?
» KATZ: People who talk a lot use up their saliva, and their breath starts to become offensive. So, if they want to get votes, they should drink plenty of water on the campaign trail.

Expert: Odor Sticks Around Until Food Leaves System

This piece comes to us from Michele Biaso of WGAL news in Lancaster, PA, who recently interviewed Dr Katz about the relationship of what you eat and how your breath smells.

Michele Biaso, Staff writer

There you are in the office, sitting down for a meeting when something catches your attention.

It’s the girl from accounting sitting next to you. You are convinced she ate a raw onion on her lunch break. She has no idea that the slice of onion in the pita wrap she ate an hour ago is causing people in the meeting to slowly scoot their chairs farther away.

Halitosis — or bad breath — is more common than people think.

Dr. Harold Katz said one-third of the population suffers from bad breath and some don’t even know it.

“That’s because you can’t smell your own breath,” he said, adding that your brain gets used to your own odor, a process called acclimation.

Katz, founder of California Breath Clinics, said the foods you consume play a direct role in odors you emit from your mouth.

According to the American Dental Association, mouth odors will continue until the body eliminates the food. So from the time you take a bite of that garlic bagel, it becomes absorbed in the bloodstream, gets transferred to the lungs and is then expelled you give off a scent.

Obvious foods such as garlic, onions and curry can directly cause bad breath because they contain sulfur compounds, which is what people smell in bad breath. But Katz said there are less obvious foods that can make your breath clear a room.

Feeding Bacteria In The Mouth

One bad breath myth he wants to debunk is that bad breath comes from the stomach.

In almost every case, he said, a smelly mouth is caused by bacteria that breed beneath the surface of the tongue, throat and tonsils.

Some foods play an indirect role because they provide fuel for the anaerobic sulfur-producing bacteria that produce chronic halitosis, he said.

Katz said dairy foods like milk, cheese and yogurt can also cause breath problems.

“They contain dense proteins that these nasty bacteria use as a fuel source to create odors,” he said.

What you drink is also important in keeping your breath fresh.

Coffee is a problem because it is very acidic. Katz said bacteria love an acidic environment because they can reproduce faster.

Candy and gum that contain sugar are also major problems because sugar feeds the bacteria. And Katz doesn’t recommend adult beverages either, because alcohol makes the mouth dry, allowing the bacteria to breed.

Those cutting calories should also be careful.

“When one diets, saliva is diminished so there is less natural protection,” Katz said. Also, when the body also starts to break down stored fats, which Katz said can lead to a different kind of bad breath.

Body builders are notorious for this problem because of their high intake of whey protein, which they use to bulk up muscle. Whey protein contains high concentrations of amino acids that contain high amounts of sulfur.

“High-protein diets are a problem because the bacteria create odors by breaking down amino acids in proteins. Then they excrete sulfur compounds as their ‘poop,’” he said.

Water Washes Away Stink

Katz said the best thing people can do to keep their breath fresh is to drink six to eight glasses of water per day. Drinking tea is also a good idea, he said.

Saliva is nature’s way of keeping your breath fresh.

“Saliva contains a high percentage of oxygen, which is the natural enemy of anaerobic bacteria,” he said. “The more saliva, the fresher your breath.”

Katz said foods that contain a lot of water also help. Celery, cucumbers, grapes, zucchini and carrots all have high water content.

Foods that are juicy, such as watermelons and strawberries, also ward off bacteria because they encourage saliva production.

If you can’t stay way from the garlic, onions and other stench-creating foods, Katz said to use an oxygenating mouthwash and toothpaste.

Katz, creator of TheraBreath System formulas, said oxygen compounds in the mouthwash and toothpaste attach themselves to the sulfur compounds and create a non-odorous compound.

Mouthwashes that contain alcohol defeat the purpose by creating a dry mouth, Katz said.

Breakfast Important To Odor

One thing Katz recommends is to eat breakfast every day. He said people who skip breakfast tend to have horrible breath because a morning meal stimulates saliva production immediately.

“When one sleeps, there is no saliva production. So, you literally have a sulfur factory in your mouth for seven to eight hours since there is no natural saliva or oxygen to fight the anaerobic bacteria.”

And as your dentist has been telling you since your first visit, brushing your teeth is always a great defense.

According to the ADA, food can collect between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums. It can then rot, causing an unpleasant odor.

If you don’t brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth and collect bacteria. This can contribute to halitosis.

In most cases, Katz said, the food you eat will not make you smell bad forever.

“Once saliva kicks in, most people return to fresh breath,” he said.

It could mean that Your “best friend” may have a serious problem. Periodontal Disease is the #1 disease in dogs and bad breath is one sign that your dog may be suffering. Now, there is a way to attack it naturally and effectively. Plus, we introduce the 1st Deodorizing Shampoo for Dogs using Oxygenation which stops offensive odors, attacks fleasand ticks & soothes your dog’s coat.

Dr. Katz for Dogs products bring to you and your dog 21st Century science, which fights odors generated by sulfur-producing anaerobic bacteria. The basis of these revolutionary home treatments has been proven thousands of times through the use of oxygenating compounds.

Oral Health for Dogs
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Frequently Asked Questions
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HydroFloss, Tongue Cleaners, Toothbrush, Bad Breath Detective, PerioSyringe

The Hydro Floss®: “A One-Time Investment for a Lifetime of Health & Confidence” – Reduces Tartar and Bacterial Buildup!
Now you can get to the Real Source of Gum Disease, Bleeding Gums, and Bad Breath, by using the Hydro Floss with Aktivoxigen Serum!
The Hydro Floss combines Magnetohydrodynamics with oral irrigation. By reversing the Polarity of the ions at the molecular level, the HydroFloss inhibits the anerobic bacteria’s ability to attach to the tooth/root surface, before they reach a Critical Mass (which means the beginning of periodontal disease, gingivitis, and bad breath!).

What’s the difference between the HydroFloss and other water irrigation devices? The HydroFloss uses magnetic technology to “pull” plaque, tartar, and bacterial debris off enamel and out from below the gumline.

Price: $98.00 (includes the patented HydroFloss unit and 4 individual Jet Tips + Free AktivOxigen Serum ($19.95 value)), so that the entire family can use this 21st Century Instrument. (The HydroFloss alone is usually sold by dentists to their own patients for up to $179.95)

Click Here to Order or call us at 1-800-97-FRESH

Here’s a simple explanation on how the HydroFloss provides the highest level of oral hygiene, particularly when used together with AktivOxigen or PerioTherapy Products. Since most of the bacteria are doing their dirty work below the gumline, the only way to attack the cause of the problem is to get into their environment. These Anaerobic bacteria, (related to the ones that cause bad breath) can easily get under the gumline and between the teeth which can cause periodontal disease and gingivitis. Once they are there, they start to reproduce rapidly and will immediately create plaque in the presence of sugars and other types of food (Usually proteins in dairy foods, meat, chicken, fish, etc.)

The sulfur compounds that they produce have a chemical effect on the gum tissue which allows it to become porous and allows other toxins to get under the gums. Once these toxins get into this area, they start to cause gingivitis, periodontal disease, bone loss, loose teeth, and eventually loss of teeth. This degrading process can be prevented by using the Hydro Floss together with Dr Katz’s AktivOxigen or PerioTherapy products. The water/AktivOsigen solution that shoots through the HydroFloss tip becomes “magnetized”.

Plaque as you know is very sticky, but scientifically it attaches tightly to the enamel and roots of your teeth through “positive” and “negative” charges. The “magnetized” water/PeriO2 solution hits the plaque & literally blasts it off the teeth by reversing the polarity at the enamel surface. Nothing else can do this. Once PerioTherapy is blasted under the gumline it will have an “oxygenating” effect on the bacteria & prevent them from producing the sulfur compounds which started the whole process in the first place.

As Periodontal Disease progresses, bleeding and sloughing of oral tissue continues, providing a food source for the anaerobic bacteria to produce more sulfur compounds. It then becomes physically impossible to clean below the gum line. That’s where the HydroFloss comes in. To be used properly, we recommend one capful of TheraBreath Oral Rinse to be added to the water trough of the HydroFloss. The oxidizing effect of the TheraBreath formula destroys the bacteria’s ability to break down the proteins and create the sulfur compounds.

Here’s What Our Patients Say after using the HydroFloss as part of their Daily Routine

Dear Dr. Katz:

“Thanks so much for introducing me to the HydroFloss. I used to use Listerine for the past 3 years, and because I believed their commercials, I though it was doing some good, but I still tons of smelly plaque and my gums bled everytime I brushed. I also had a bad breath and sour taste problem when I came to see you in San Francisco last year. You so easily diagnosed my problem…it’s like you read my mind. Every morning I use your PerioTherapy with the Hydro Floss. I can ‘t function without it my PerioTherapy “fix”! As my new boyfriend tells me, “I can ‘t stop kissing you. ” This would never have happened without your help.”… D.L., San Mateo, CA

Dear Dr. Katz:

“I just want to let you know that using PerioTherapy with the HydroFloss has given me that same “tingly, fresh” feeling I used to have 25 years ago! I thought it would never come back!”… R.M., Chicago, IL

Dear Dr. Katz:

Why is it that my dentist cannot except the fact that he knows nothing about gum disease? All I heard from him and his hygienist was “brush and floss, brush and floss” – over and over! But my gums still bled so badly that the taste made me nauseous – and believe me I brushed and flossed 6 times a day – every time I finished eating I pulled out my dental floss! Luckily I found you when I saw you on TV. You can’t believe how much sense your products made to me. I threw away my Scope, Crest, and Binaca. Now I only use PerioTherapy 2-3 times a day and I use it with your HydroFloss in the morning. My gums don’t bleed anymore and listen to this – my dentist thinks I went to a gum specialist for gum surgery – that’s how impressed he is with my oral health! Could you please send him information on PerioTherapy and the HydroFloss. Now, he needs it more than me!… S.T., Brooklyn, NY

Here’s What Dentists and Periodontists (Gum Specialists) Say about the HydroFloss

“It may prove to be the premier dental discovery of the 20th Century”… W.R. DDS, Birmingham, AL

“…The periodontal exams every 3 months have resulted in ZERO Pathology” D.D. DMD, Lexington, KY

“The overall improvement has surpassed all our expectations!’…P. G. DDS, Elizabethton, TN

“Statistically significant improvement in cases of even extreme oral disease. ” D.S. DDS, Columbus, OH

Click Here to Order or call us at 1-800-97-FRESH

PerioTherapy – Not just mouthwash and toothpaste:

PerioTherapy combines the finest Clinically Effective compounds that work synergistically to attack the true cause of Gum Disease and Bad Breath. Recent research in Europe and the U.S. have proven a link between an increase in oral sulfur compounds (from bad breath), which then initiate gum disease and bleeding gums (which are truly open wounds in your mouth). These open bleeding sites allow other dangerous toxins to enter the body’s blood stream.

The PerioTherapy System was designed for those who suffer with bleeding and swollen gums whether they have bad breath or not. There is a strong relationship between gum disease and bad breath, because volatile sulfur compounds (found in bad breath) are needed to initiate the penetration of dangerous toxins below the gum line to start periodontal disease. This new research corroborates our work in finding a non-surgical treatment for gum disease.

The PerioTherapy System Starter Kit consists of our PerioTherapy Oral Rinse (16 oz. bottle) and PerioGel, (its 4 oz. toothpaste), a handy syringe to help with application, and a tongue cleaner. It’s priced at only $29.95. Click Here to Order

We strongly encourage the use of the HydroFloss to provide a superior level of oral hygiene. (We also have a new Bonus Pak for PerioTherapy, allowing you to save 45% on the total price)

The Synergy of These Compounds has produced PerioTherapy: (No other System contains all-encompassing therapies like ours)

PeriO2: The active ingredient in PerioTherapy releases potent Oxygen molecules when in contact with these sulfur compounds. Immediately, a chemical conversion takes place that eliminates them safely and effectively. Once the Thiols (sulfur compounds) are reduced, their initiation of allowing toxins into the blood stream disappears.

Whole Leaf Aloe Vera: This is not your ordinary aloe vera. It is specially grown for us in green houses to maintain its high concentration of Pharmaceutical Level elements. As everyone knows even “plain” aloe vera has been used to stop bleeding as a natural healing agent for thousands of years. Tests performed at a large metropolitan hospital on PerioTherapy’s form of Whole Leaf Aloe Vera indeed confirm its healing highly beneficial qualities. We use the highest concentration of Whole Leaf Aloe Vera in the World! (Do not be fooled by imitators)

Tea Tree Oil: This is the secret ingredient in many “natural” Medications. Tea Tree Oil is extracted through a complicated process from the leaves of an Australian tree. Physicians in the Southern Hemisphere have turned to the Melalucca Plant because the overuse of antibiotics has rendered formerly effective prescription medications useless. Properly formulated Tea Tree Oil has been used in many cases as an anti-bacterial agent, when even the strongest antibiotics have failed. Our pharmaceutical grade Tea Tree Oil initiates a healing response in sore, swollen, bleeding gums.

Zinc Gluconate: Zinc is the natural enemy of bacteria. It wasn’t until very recently that laboratories decided to use this very pleasant version of Zinc (as opposed to nasty tasting Zinc Acetate or the astringent Zinc Chloride – which burns the inside of your mouth). You may recognize this ingredient as the one that is used in many common cold medications – That’s because it works!

Fluoride: We have added a good does of Sodium Fluoride to our PerioGel for 2 very good reasons: 1) It stops the decay process and 2) It helps to desensitize teeth with root exposure (a common symptom of gum disease.

So what’s wrong with commercial products? PLENTY!! First of all, if they truly worked, why is there an epidemic of gum disease in the U.S.? – (where everyone constantly brushes, rinses, and gargles with the following ingredients!)

Here’s just a few of the chemicals that are thrown into the mix of the most commonly used products:

Soap: Yes, there is soap in toothpaste. It is known chemically as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (check out your shampoo bottle and you’ll see it listed near the top of ingredients.) Soap as everyone knows is very drying. Consequently, it will end up producing more of these sulfur compounds. Why is Soap placed in toothpaste (it’s even in the so-called “natural” Tom’s of Maine – It’s put there to make it foam up. The big companies think you are Stupid and that you won’t brush your teeth unless you see FOAM! It has no other use and of course, our PerioGel does not contain Soap.

Saccharin: Nearly every toothpaste on the market contains Saccharin to sweeten the product. Saccharin has been shown time and again to cause cancer in lab animals. PerioGel does not contain Saccharin. We use a natural non-sugar sweeteners. Did you know that Crest toothpaste for Kids contains Saccharin! Would you give Saccharin to your children? Of course not..Then why do you let them brush their teeth with it (and possible swallow some, too!)

Testimonials from Real PerioTherapy Users:

Dear Dr. Katz:

“I must congratulate you. One of my patients had a long history of bleeding gums. She blamed it on hormones, and soft gums, and poor diet as a child. It was very difficult for her to understand periodontal disease. Two weeks ago she was seen by my hygienist for her scheduled prophy. When I checked her, I could not believe my eyes – Her pocket depth was only 3 mm, her gums were pink, and after probing – NO BLOOD! She told me she had started to use your products the previous week instead of some other brands. The results were amazing. Keep up the good work. I’ve already ordered some to try on my difficult cases and I’ll let you know how they turn out.”… Dr. H.R., Miami, FL

Dear Dr. Katz:

“I heard you on the BBC when I was in London last year. When you mentioned some of the research on bleeding gums and how that could lead to heart disease and strokes, I waited to get your phone number. Unfortunately I didn’t catch it, but I caught you on TV again recently and that’s when I finally got your Periotherapy products. My family has a history of heart disease and what I realized after hearing you was that we all suffered with gum problems. I use your products a few times a day to make sure that I won’t have the same problems that my parents had. Why don’t other dentists talk about these problems?”…Patty Y., Rochester, NY

Click Here to Order PerioTherapy