Bad breath has affected individuals for thousands of years. But it wasn’t until the late 1800s that people called it a “disease” and jumped on the opportunity to monetize a remedy for the embarrassing problem. Today, the product Listerine®, once touted as a “medicine” is used by millions of people all over the world. Learn more about the history of the bad-breath fighter and other ways to stop the stench.
HISTORY OF MEDICINE FOR HALITOSIS
Bad breath has likely been around since the early days of man, but according to the Smithsonian, it was advertisements for Listerine that transformed halitosis into a medical issue that should receive treatment.
Listerine was initially intended as a surgical antiseptic applied to the skin to reduce the risk of surgical site infections. Its creator, Dr. Joseph Lawrence, named his work after Dr. Joseph Lister, the founding father of antiseptics. Advertisements aimed at dentists said that Listerine would kill germs in the mouth.
The Listerine formula was later purchased by Jordan Wheat Lambert, founder of the Lambert Pharmaceutical Company. Once Lambert saw the consumer marketing opportunity, he created the term halitosis by combining the Latin word for breath, “Halitus,” and the medical ending, “osis.” The word halitosis started appearing in ads in the 1920s as a medical condition that people should take note of and use Listerine to fight. With that, Listerine positioned itself as the best way to beat halitosis.
OTHER WAYS TO COMBAT HALITOSIS
Bad breath affects 1 in 4 people globally. Commonly, halitosis is caused by poor oral hygiene, gum disease, tongue coat or dirty dentures. Fortunately, there are things you can do to avoid these problems:
- Brush and floss twice a day — Brushing your teeth helps remove smelly foods and stubborn bacteria from your mouth. Flossing removes food between your teeth and gum line, which can cause bad bacteria to grow and settle in.
- Brush or scrape your tongue — Use your toothbrush to remove plaque, food debris and dead cells from your tongue’s surface. You can also invest in an inexpensive tool called a tongue scraper.
- Stop tobacco use — If you’re a tobacco smoker or chewer, you’re probably familiar with the negative impacts on your teeth, mouth and breath. Eliminating tobacco permanently is good for your overall health and can improve your breath too.
- Go to the dentist — Visit your dentist twice a year for an exam and cleaning. If you struggle with halitosis, talk to your dentist about other remedies that can help.
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