Cure For Bad Breath
Bad odor from the mouth in the early morning is seen in almost
all individuals.This can be controlled by maintaining oral
hygiene.Even after cleaning the mouth some individuals may
suffer from bad breath due to some problem in the mouth or in
the nearby areas.Some general disease condition can also produce
bad breath.Exact cause has to be identified and should be
treated accordingly.Some common measures to cure or reduce bad
breath are discussed here.
1) Oral hygiene:
Mouth should be kept clean every time to reduce the bacterial
action.After food gargling with lukewarm water is very
essential.Even after small food articles like
snacks,sweets,buscuits cleaning with water is needed.Brushing
should be done twice daily.It is said that early morning
brushing is for beauty and bed time brushing is for good health.
2) Brushing techniques:
Normal brushing technique should be followed for better
result.Many people brush vigorously causing damage to the
gums.Brushing after every food and drink can damage the enamel
.Bristles of the tooth brush should be smooth but hard enough to
remove the food particles from the gaps.The direction of
brushing is the most important thing.The upper teeth should be
brushed in a downward direction and the lower in upward
direction.This is applicable to both inner and outer
surfaces.Next comes the crown of the teeth;here brushing is done
in anterior and posterior direction keeping the brush in same
direction.This applicable to both upper and lower set of teeth.
3) Tongue cleaning:
White or yellowish coating on the tongue can cause bad
breath.This is more well marked in the morning and should be
removed twice daily with the healp of a tongue cleaner. Tongue
cleaner must be used gently without damaging the taste buds on
the tongue.
4) Tooth pick:
Tooth pick is a small strip of wood or plastic with a pointed
end.This is used to remove food particles lodged between the
gaps.Very useful after eating meat and fish.Should be used
gently to avoid damage to gums.
5) Gargling:
After every meal gargling with lukewarm water is useful.For
better result little common salt is dissolved in the lukewarm
water .Different types of mouth wash is available in the market
in different trade names.Gargling with mouth wash can also
reduce bad breath.
6) Food habits:
Protein containing food articles are known to produce bad
breath. Example; meat, milk, fish, egg etc. If these food
articles are taken proper cleaning is essential.Some food
articles are known to produce particular smell which may be
unpleasent for others. Raw onion is the best example.It is said
that an apple a day keeps the doctor away and a raw onion a day
keep every body away.Small food articles taken in between can
also cause bad smell(nuts,fried items etc).Maintaining
regularity in food timing is the most important thing.
7) Water intake:
Dryness in the mouth can make a favourable condition for the
bacterial activity resulting in bad odor.saliva is needed to
keep the mouth moist and to reduce the bacterial
proliferation.Production of saliva is closely related with water
balance of the body and hence sufficient quantity of water
should be taken to maintain the production of saliva.
8) Mouth freshners:
Natural and artificial mouth freshners can reduce the intensity
of bad breath to some extent.Spicy articles are commonly used
for this purpose.Chewing spices like clove,cumin
seed,cardomom,cinnamon,ginger ect are useful. All citrus fruits
can reduce bad odor.Mouth freshners and chewing gums are
available in the market.these products are also helpful ,but
some may cause damage hence should be used with caution.
If the above things doesn't work then what to do ?
Consider the following:- 1) Remove the cause:
Bad breath is common in some general and systemic diseases like
diabetes,fevers,gastric disorders,liver diseases and ect.By
removing or reducing the primary cause the bad breath will go
automatically.
2) Modern medicine:
If bad breath is due to any infection suitable antibiotics,anti
fungal or anti viral medicines will help.If it is due to any
autoimmune or chronic inflamatory conditions steroids may also
be used.Saliva producing tablets can also be used. 3) Dental
cleaning:
Dental cleaning done by a dentist can remove the dental plaques
and tartar. This can reduce the severity of bad breath.Visit
your dentist atleast once in a year.
4) Filling of caries:
Since caries are one of the main cause for bad breath it should
be filled by a dentist.Earlier silver amalgam was used ,nowadays
it is replaced by synthetic materials.If the pulp cavity is
affected by the caries root canal treatment can be done.
5) Tooth extraction:
If caries are deep with destruction of teeth with bad smell
extraction is the better choice and a dental implant can be kept
in the gap.
6) Tonsillectomy:
Patients with recurrent tonsillitis can have bad breath due to
offenssive discharges and release of pasty materials from the
crypts of tonsils.Such patients get great relief after
tonsillectomy(removal of tonsils).
7) Psychological counselling:
Those who suffer from bad breath may be very much depressed and
they be away from the public .This isolation hampers their
daytoday activities.Such people should understand the fact that
all humanbeings are having bad breath, but with slight
differences in intensities.Mostly all people control it by
taking personal care.Every human body has got it's own
smell,that may or may not be tolerable for others.They should be
adviced to do all hygienic meashures to reduce the intensity of
smell.Improving the quality of life by all possible means can
also help.Moral support from friends and family members are
needed for such people.
Some individuals visit the doctor for bad breath without any
real problem.It is included under somatisation disorder.They
usually complain about pain, breathlessness,abdominal
discomfort,bad smell ect.proper diagnosis is needed to rule out
any real causes.These patients should be managed with a
psychological approach.
8) Homoeopathy:
In Homoeopathy medicines are selected on the basis of physical
,mental,emotional,and social aspects of the diseased
person.Considering the whole aspects a constitutional
homoeopathic medicine is selected and given in suitable potency
and dose.By this all health related problems including bad
breath will be solved.On the basis of coating on the tongue,type
of smell,cause for bad breath,and other associated complaints a
medicine can be given to get relief from bad breath.In the
homoeopathic medical repertory by Dr Robin Murphy there are 140
homoeopathic drugs mentioned for bad breath.On the basis of
signs and symptoms of the individual a suitable medicine is
given. Commonly used drugs are arnica, antim crud, pulsatilla,
sulphur, psorinum, nux vomica, ars alb, merc sol, kreosot, hekla
lava, silicea, asafoitida, graphites, kali bich, acid nitric etc.
Homoeopathic mother tinctures like cinnamon Q,kreosot Q,zingiber
Q,rhus glabra Q,menthol Q and ect can be used for gargling after
diluting in water.
[POINTS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE IS FOR GENERAL AWARENESS.
ANYBODY SUFFERING FROM BAD BREATH SHOULD CONSULT A DOCTOR.]