Bad Breath May Be Infectious

Q. A family member pulled me aside a few months ago and informed me that I have had bad breath for years although I brush and floss religiously. I went to see the dentist, who took x-rays and said I have no gum disease. He suggested the bad breath is due to a stomach infection.
Antacids and breath mints are no use. I am ashamed to ask my doctor, but this problem is affecting my life. I am now so self-conscious around people I stay home. Is there any vitamin or supplement that could help?
A. Bad breath has many possible causes. You were smart to check with your dentist first, since gum disease is often a culprit.
If your dentist is right, your bad breath may stem from a bacterial infection of the stomach. Helicobacter pylori can cause digestive upset, ulcers and bad breath. Your doctor can test for the bacteria and treat you with antibiotics to cure it.
We’d like to send you our Guide to Digestive Disorders that describes treatment for this infection in more detail. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. G-3, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. There are no natural remedies to kill H. pylori.
Q. I’ve read with interest suggestions for treating canker sores. About 35 years ago my son’s school nurse recommended swishing buttermilk in the mouth. It helps heal them fast!
A. Why buttermilk might help is beyond us, but we cannot think of a safer solution for a common problem. If buttermilk doesn’t work, there are many other options. Some people have found that swishing a tablespoon of sauerkraut juice in the mouth helps heal canker sores. Others report the supplement l-lysine prevents or relieves such mouth ulcers.
Q. Years ago my shoulder hurt so much that I couldn’t comb my hair with my right hand. My doctor injected it with cortisone several times and said the shoulder joint should be replaced.
I read about a doctor recommending glucosamine and chondroitin for arthritis, so I started taking it. It has been a godsend for me. In conjunction with gentle exercise it has eliminated my symptoms. Has the FDA approved this treatment?
A. The FDA has been reviewing the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin. A committee that met this summer concluded there isn’t enough data to give these supplements a green light for preventing arthritis.
Nevertheless, many people report benefit and some studies suggest these supplements can alleviate pain. Since this approach has worked so well for you, you may want to keep it up. The alternatives appear a lot riskier.
Q. Many years ago I read that people should eat brown rice to reduce blood pressure. More recently a doctor-columnist responded to a question that the rice diet works, but modern medicines are better for treating blood pressure.
Have you ever heard of this diet regimen? I’d appreciate learning more about this option for treating high blood pressure.
A. The rice diet (mostly brown rice, vegetables and fruit; no salt) was originally developed to control blood pressure, before many medicines were available. Since then, it has also been used successfully for weight loss. Research shows that a diet rich in vegetables and very low in sodium can help control blood pressure almost as well as some medications.