Bad breath is most objectionable. It is also known as halitosis. Most people who suffer from this problem are not aware of their problem. The common cause of this problem is bad teeth. Dental decay at the roots of the teeth may result in abscesses in the gums with foul smelling pus giving bad odor to the breath.
Even small holes in the teeth may provide a place where germs can multiply and give foul odors. These are very common in younger people. Badly fitting dentures that are not cleaned properly also leads to bad breathe. It is common in old people. Bad breath does not arise from the stomach. Actually, anaerobic bacteria in mouth produce smelly sulfur compounds that cause bad breath.
Other causes for the bad breathe may be infection of the tonsils, adenoids or sinuses. Bad breath may also arise from the inflammation in the stomach and also from the food materials that have not been completely digested. Tobacco, alcohol, alcohol containing mouth rinses, dry mouth, foods like garlic, onion, and spicy foods, hunger, morning breath, poor oral hygiene can also cause bad breath.
Colds, coughs and sore throats are also reasons for bad breath, because the surrounding area in the mouth has increased bacterial content.
Everybody gets bad breath or halitosis somehow or the other, no matter how good oral hygiene. Bad breath is usually caused due to poor diet, drying of the mouth, not brushing teeth regularly, illness, low fluid intake, stress, lack of salivary flow and exercise. Some people are more prone to bad breath (halitosis) than others, and need to pay extra attention in order to maintain fresh breath.
The bacterial waste products that are the common cause of bad breath are produced when oral anaerobic bacteria digest proteins. After eating a meal we should clean our mouth immediately.
Drinking plenty of water throughout the day will help to control bad breath (halitosis ). Dehydration will try to conserve moisture by reducing salivary flow, thus minimizing saliva's cleansing and diluting effects on the bacteria and bacterial waste products that are the cause of bad breath.
Gurgles with plain water is also another bad breath solution. Rinsing will both dilute and partially remove the bacterial waste products that are the cause of bad breath.
- A person can never suffer from bad breath if he/she keeps teeth, tongue, and mouth clean. One should take all care in cleaning teeth by using proper toothbrush and using proper brushing technique.
- Brush your teeth in the morning, in the evening, and after every meal, especially after eating milk products, fish and meat.
- Wash the tongue with baking soda dissolved in warm water to decrease the acidity in mouth making a less-friendly environment for the bacteria to grow. One of the useful home remedies for bad breath.
- Most mouthwashes contain alcohol which dries and damages soft oral tissue and leads to even faster formation of odor causing bacteria and gum tissue damage which makes bad breath worse Mouthwash containing cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorine dioxide, sodium chlorite or zinc acts as an antibacterial agent and these can control the growth of bacteria in the mouth.
- Eating plain yogurt for 6 weeks can help to get rid of the bad breath because it decreases the levels of offensive compounds produced by bacteria in the mouth by 80%.
- Doing gurgles with a glass of water with the juice of half a lemon added also helps to reduce the bad breath. This is one of the best home remedies for bad breath.
- Another bad breath solution is brushing gums and tongue with some powdered cloves.
- A patient with bad breath should avoid the following foods: Blue Cheeses, spicy salami, tuna, anchovies, curry, garlic, onions, milk, red meat, coffee, cola drinks
- Cardamom seeds can also help to sweeten breath. Parsley leaves are rich in chlorophyll, which is natural deodorizer. This is one of the best home remedies for bad breath.
- Fennel Tea helps to reduce the bad odor. Compounds found in tea can decrease the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath. Polyphenols, chemical components of tea, prevent both the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath and the bacteria's production of malodorous compounds.
- Cranberries have the power to fight the offensive-smelling bacteria that can build up in mouth and lead to bad breath.
- Avoid frequent spicy foods and excessive alcohol or coffee. Also stop smoking.
- Avoid excessive sugar for bad breath cure as sweet helps to feed the bacteria.
- Increasing the flow of saliva can decrease bad breath. This is because saliva has a cleansing and diluting effect on the bacteria and bacterial waste products that cause bad breath. Chewing gums, breath mints, and lozenges can increase the salivary flow.
- Eating a green raw Guava also helps to fight against the bad breath.
- Another good home remedy for bad breath is cloves which helps to keep the fresh breath. Keep some cloves under the molars without chewing.
- Eat a fresh fruit, which is fibrous, such as an apple, after lunch.
- Whenever possible chew on sugar-free gum as it also reduces the bad breath.
References:
Loesche, Walter: The effects of antimicrobial mouth rinses on oral malodor and their status relative to US Food and Drug Administration regulations.. Quintessence International. Vol. 30, No.5. 1999.
Malcmacher, Louis: A New Protocol for Halitosis Treatment. Dentistry Today. Vol.19, No.19. 2000.
Oeding, Mary: Bad Breath. Foundations In Continuing Education. 2000.
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