“Take My Breath Away”

CEBU, Philippines — The love theme of the hit mid-80s movie “Top Gun,” starring Tom Cruise, was a song titled “Take My Breath Away” by the group called Berlin. The song was a big hit too, and the title phrase became a popular idiomatic expression. If a girl said, “He takes my breath away,” she was referring to a boy who was just “too incredibly, amazingly and admirably gorgeous!”

The idiomhas since been taken to metaphorically mean “to overwhelm someone with astounding beauty or grandeur so as to cause someone to be out of breath in amazement.”But that’s the positive side of the phrase. On the downside, one who wishes for his or her breath to be literally taken away may be having a breath problem – bad breath!

Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. It can also be made worse by the types of foods one eats and by unhealthy lifestyle habits.

When one eats, the food eaten basically begins to be broken down in the mouth. If these are foods with strong odors, such as garlic or onions, brushing and flossing or even gargling mouthwash may only cover up the odor temporarily. The odor will only go away completely as soon as the food has passed through the body.

And, yes, sloppy hygiene habits also contribute a lot to bad breath. If one doesn't brush and floss his teeth daily, food particles can remain in his mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. Itcan bring on bad breath.

Bad breath can also result from smoking or chewing tobacco-based products, which can also stain the teeth, dull thetaste buds, and irritate the gums. Worse, persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth may be a warning sign of gum disease, due to a buildup of plaque on teeth thatirritates the gums. Untreated gum disease can eventually damage the gums and jawbone.

Worst is that bad breath can be a symptom of other, more serious illnesses. Respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, postnasal drip, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, and liver or kidney problems are known to also cause bad breath.

There’s also the psychological disorder called “halitophobia,” an excessive concern or fear of halitosis. While most people are at least slightly concerned about how their breath smells, it becomes a phobia with others. Whilehalitophobia is not so widespread, it presents a serious problem in those who have it.

Left untreated, halitophobia can have a huge impact on a sufferer’s personal life, particularly in terms of self-confidence. The symptoms include social anxiety, withdrawal from social situations, fear of vocal projection when speaking (in extreme cases, not speaking at all), anxiety about being close to others and physical affection, and excessive teeth brushing. Sadly, halitophobics get a double whammy – their bad breath can be symptomatic of ill health and it is also ruining their emotional life.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” At the first signs of a breath problem, it’s time to see a dentist or a general doctor. Carlo Modequillo