16th May 2005
Hi everyone,
It seems that recent posts are becoming more despairing. I feel for all of you. I agree that having BB derives no solice or comfort. It truly is the loneliest of conditions. I have a loving and supporting partner and 2 beautiful little girls but I feel that my life and our lives together are so constrained that it has little quality to it (thankfully they don't see it that way though). This is not all BB related but it does exacerbate it. That is why I am determined to feel better about myself in every respect and dealing with the BB is just one aspect of it. I am tired of over internalising everything.
We are all resourceful people who think outside this box we have been placed in. There is at present no cure that allows oral bacteria to exist in perfect harmony. Well no cure in the same way that say a paracetamol is for a headache. I think a better phrase than 'cure' would be 'manageable solution'. This is what non BB sufferers automatically have but that we have to re-create. The argument against eliminating the negative bacteria all together (which I think might be possible - not sure) is that we need it and that more importantly all the good bacteria will go as well and would apparently create a haven for other infections. But BB sufferers only care about the BB going. Just out of interest is it possible to eliminate BB producing bacteria this way and what would be the effects of doing so ? I am sure one of you will know.
To update. I have concluded my PH testing. I averaged the range 6.25 - 6.5 with no readings of 6.0 anymore. My parter continued to be 7.0 to 7.25 (no BB) and 6.5 - 6.75 upon waking with slight morning breath. It is a shame because I would have liked to have seen just how acidic I was when my BB was at its worst last year. My tongue coating, mucous/PND, bitter taste and BB have improved since my mouth has become even this less acidic. I think this is down to fewer incidences of reflux (reason unknown but could be the eradication of H.Pylori, hiatus hernia less troublesome or Zantac (least likely). I am not neutral yet but will get there. Zoott, how are u doing ?
On a positive note. At work the other day I was chatting at length to 2 female colleagues round my desk (totally impromptu and not about work). This has not happened for a long time. No negative reactions from them but I was still uncomfortable. (you see it's more than just the physical.....my mind set has been so altered by this). It felt pretty good though.
You guys getting together is a pro-active step. You all seem to be pinning down the contributory factors in your problem. I have always believed that there is something fundamental that links us all together and distinguishes us from non BB sufferers. I think it is our inability to re-create and maintain a neutral oral balance but who knows. I am sure doing something collectively and scientific will shed some light on it for us all.
Best wishes to you all.
Note to Sartor
My thoughts about reflux, acidic mouth, and BB are derived from various sources which you can find on the net. (Cannot give exact external sites here) Exponents of alkalinity state that saliva PH should be the same as blood at 7.4. Dental research shows that plaque is formed and enamel damage takes place in an acidic oral environment. Also why are all these breath products alkalising or oygenising. Surely if slightly acidic was best they would be promoting that. The bacteria are anaerobic and an acidic enviroment is anaerobic. It really comes down to how you interpret what is how there.This makes sense to me and my particular situation. Also see below:
"People with lung diseases have bad breath, according to scientists at the University of Virginia. Researchers say people with conditions like asthma and cystic fibrosis have highly acidic breath. They said doctors should be able to distinguish between healthy patients and those with lung diseases quite easily. This is because healthy people have breath which is slightly alkaline. They asked 100 healthy patients to breathe into a disposable breathalyser providing four samples a day for seven consecutive days and found that their pH levels remained relatively stable and slightly alkaline.
(BBC Health website)
It seems that recent posts are becoming more despairing. I feel for all of you. I agree that having BB derives no solice or comfort. It truly is the loneliest of conditions. I have a loving and supporting partner and 2 beautiful little girls but I feel that my life and our lives together are so constrained that it has little quality to it (thankfully they don't see it that way though). This is not all BB related but it does exacerbate it. That is why I am determined to feel better about myself in every respect and dealing with the BB is just one aspect of it. I am tired of over internalising everything.
We are all resourceful people who think outside this box we have been placed in. There is at present no cure that allows oral bacteria to exist in perfect harmony. Well no cure in the same way that say a paracetamol is for a headache. I think a better phrase than 'cure' would be 'manageable solution'. This is what non BB sufferers automatically have but that we have to re-create. The argument against eliminating the negative bacteria all together (which I think might be possible - not sure) is that we need it and that more importantly all the good bacteria will go as well and would apparently create a haven for other infections. But BB sufferers only care about the BB going. Just out of interest is it possible to eliminate BB producing bacteria this way and what would be the effects of doing so ? I am sure one of you will know.
To update. I have concluded my PH testing. I averaged the range 6.25 - 6.5 with no readings of 6.0 anymore. My parter continued to be 7.0 to 7.25 (no BB) and 6.5 - 6.75 upon waking with slight morning breath. It is a shame because I would have liked to have seen just how acidic I was when my BB was at its worst last year. My tongue coating, mucous/PND, bitter taste and BB have improved since my mouth has become even this less acidic. I think this is down to fewer incidences of reflux (reason unknown but could be the eradication of H.Pylori, hiatus hernia less troublesome or Zantac (least likely). I am not neutral yet but will get there. Zoott, how are u doing ?
On a positive note. At work the other day I was chatting at length to 2 female colleagues round my desk (totally impromptu and not about work). This has not happened for a long time. No negative reactions from them but I was still uncomfortable. (you see it's more than just the physical.....my mind set has been so altered by this). It felt pretty good though.
You guys getting together is a pro-active step. You all seem to be pinning down the contributory factors in your problem. I have always believed that there is something fundamental that links us all together and distinguishes us from non BB sufferers. I think it is our inability to re-create and maintain a neutral oral balance but who knows. I am sure doing something collectively and scientific will shed some light on it for us all.
Best wishes to you all.
Note to Sartor
My thoughts about reflux, acidic mouth, and BB are derived from various sources which you can find on the net. (Cannot give exact external sites here) Exponents of alkalinity state that saliva PH should be the same as blood at 7.4. Dental research shows that plaque is formed and enamel damage takes place in an acidic oral environment. Also why are all these breath products alkalising or oygenising. Surely if slightly acidic was best they would be promoting that. The bacteria are anaerobic and an acidic enviroment is anaerobic. It really comes down to how you interpret what is how there.This makes sense to me and my particular situation. Also see below:
"People with lung diseases have bad breath, according to scientists at the University of Virginia. Researchers say people with conditions like asthma and cystic fibrosis have highly acidic breath. They said doctors should be able to distinguish between healthy patients and those with lung diseases quite easily. This is because healthy people have breath which is slightly alkaline. They asked 100 healthy patients to breathe into a disposable breathalyser providing four samples a day for seven consecutive days and found that their pH levels remained relatively stable and slightly alkaline.
(BBC Health website)