Halitosis (Bad Breath)

Have you ever had that awful feeling when you’re at a fancy party and the person talking to you has really bad breath? Or even worse...do you have bad breath? If yes, the read on...

Halitosis is typically caused by poor dental hygiene. However, other causes could include gum disease, tooth decay, heavy metal build-up, infection of the respiratory tract (throat, lungs, nose, and windpipe), improper diet, constipation, smoking, fever, diabetes, foreign bacteria in the mouth, indigestion, inadequate protein digestion, liver or kidney malfunction, postnasal drip, stress, and too much unfriendly bacteria in the colon.

Dieting, alcohol abuse, or fasting can cause bad breath as well. “Morning breath” results from dehydration and reduction in the amount of saliva, which is needed to wash away bacteria in the mouth. 

Recommendations:

• Chewing a sprig of celery or parsley after meals is an excellent treatment for bad breath. Parsley and celery are rich in chlorophyll, the active ingredient in many popular breath mints.
• Other herbs that may be helpful for bad breath include star anise, cloves, and fennel (saunf).
• Drink generous amounts of water.
• Avoid spicy foods, whose odours can linger for hours. Foods like garlic, onion, some cheese, salami and tuna leaves oils in the mouth that can release odours for up to twenty-four hours, no matter how much you brush or gargle. Beer, coffee, whiskey, and wine leave residues that stick to the soft, sticky plaque on teeth and get into the digestive system. Each exhalation releases their odour back into the air.
• Avoid foods that get stuck between the teeth easily or that cause tooth decay, such as meat, stringy vegetables, and sweets, especially sticky sweets and toffees.
• Brush your teeth and tongue after every meal. 
• Use a tongue scraper to help remove bacterial plaque and shed dead cells and food debris from the surface of the tongue. 
• Replace your toothbrush every month, as well as after any infectious illness, to prevent bacteria build-up.
• Use dental floss and a chlorophyll mouthwash daily.
• Keep your toothbrush clean.
• Do not use commercial mouthwashes. Most contain nothing more than flavouring, dye, and alcohol. While they may kill the bacteria that cause bad breath, the bacteria soon return in greater force. Mouthwashes can also irritate the gums, tongue, and mucous membranes in the mouth.
• Have your teeth professionally cleaned every six months.

Bad breath may be the sign of an underlying health problem. Consult your health care provider for a thorough check-up if our suggestions do not improve the condition.

Stay blessed with good health .…always !!!

Warm regards,

Charmaine D’Souza