I’m a man who has battled with having bouts of bad breath since I was a child. When I was younger, my dad used to tell me my breath “smelled like shit” and would constantly ask me, “did you brush your teeth today?” I didn’t realize there was a real problem with my oral hygiene, I just thought my breath smelled from eating and not brushing after or from not brushing long enough. (Why is it kids don’t like to take baths or brush their teeth?)
When I was a teenager, I was told once or twice, that I can remember, that my breath stinks. At one point, in my teenage years, I was referred to as “stank breath” which was the reason why I created this site and named it such. As a young adult, a girlfriend pointed out that I had bad breath. In her words, during an argument that led to a breakup, she said to me “…and your breath f*cking stinks.” At this point, I realized I has a very real problem with bad breath.
I have been somewhat obsessing about my oral hygiene now for the past 6 years. I always have gum in my mouth and I floss, brush, and rinse many times each day. I used to find it very difficult to talk face to face with people, especially women. My worrying about having bad breath or not transformed into a somewhat of a social disorder. It should be noted I have a family history involving mental disorders, bipolar to name one, which I believe contributed to my downward spiral into isolation.
To be social, I would drink heavily and even pop anti-anxiety medication that wasn’t prescribed to me. Soon, I started to take xanax just get get through the work day AND before any social functions. Before I knew if, I was hooked on xanax. I finally realized I had a problem when I ran out one night and my supplier didn’t have anymore to sell to me. I didn’t go to work for 3 days because of this. Luckily, I didn’t lose my job.
I ‘m lucky because it only took myself to realize there was something wrong with me taking 1-3 xanax just to get through a day. Unfortunately, many people who are abusing drugs need much more help than that.
Shortly after I stopped taking these pills, I found out about Therabreath, which has done wonders for me. I no longer worry compulsively or obsessively about my breath.
If you live in Michigan , there’s a non-profit rehab facility that can help.
Michigan drug rehab
If you don’t live in Michigan, just google drug rehab [state] and you’ll certainly find a help center.