What is bad breath?
Bad breath is a very common problem. The medical term for bad breath is 'halitosis'. Bad breath is embarrassing both for the individual having bad breath and for the people whom he faces. Bad breath is due to the anaerobic oral bacteria, which get accumulated on the individual's tongue and between the teeth.
What causes bad breath?
Bad breath can be caused due to various reasons. Poor Dental Hygiene is the most common reason for bad breath. Accumulation of bacteria around the teeth and on the tongue occurs naturally in the mouth. Bacteria acts on the food particles trapped between the teeth. They breakdown these particles and in turn release bad odor.
What are the common causes of bad breath?
Consuming strong flavored items like garlic, onion, coffee, and alcohol…. etc can cause bad breath. Dryness of mouth just after sleep aids the growth of bacteria and causes bad breath. Infections in the throat and tonsils also cause bad breath. Smoking. Indigestion may also be a cause.
Alternative remedies: Ayurvedic remedies: - Chew cardamom to sweeten your breath.
- Chew some parsley leaves.
- Squeeze one lemon in a glass of water. To it add salt and sugar and drink this regularly.
- Drink tea made of fenugreek seeds.
Home remedies: - Brush your teeth taking little baking soda on your toothbrush. Baking soda kills bacteria.
- Clean your tongue regularly using a tongue cleaner. This would prevent the accumulation of bacteria.
- Brushing teeth after every meal would be an excellent idea.
Aromatherapy: - Applying a drop of pure peppermint essential oil on the tongue is a quick cure for bad breath.
- Rinse your mouth using a mouth wash made by mixing 4 drops Lavender oil, 5ml Brandy and 125 ml warm water.
Homeopathic remedies: - Gargle at least once a day with a solution of 20 drops Calendula tincture (diluted with water).
- Take 30X dose of 'Mercurius vivas' at least 3 to 4 times a day.
Hydrotherapy:
Temperature regulated filtered water is passed in the body, into the colon. This is done to remove the waste products in the body, through the large intestine. The waste products are softened and through natural peristaltic movements the waste gets evacuated from the body. However, hydrotherapy is not an immediate cure for bad breath. It is just one of the cures available. Food Therapy: - Avoid onion, garlic, coffee, cheese, exotic spices, sugar and high-fat food.
- Fruits should be included especially pineapple and papaya as they contain digestive enzymes.
- Green leafy vegetables prove beneficial.
Dietary supplements: - Vitamin B deficiency may also cause bad breath. So, consuming 50mg of niacinimide with each meal and 50mg of B6 once in a day can be rewarding.
- Vitamin C would help the body to get rid of excess mucus and toxins, which could be the cause of bad breath.
Yoga: - Practicing head-to- knee pose exercise everyday helps the functioning of liver. And, this has a direct affect on breath.
- Roll your tongue towards the centre and breathe in, through your mouth. This exercise stimulates the flow of saliva and thus prevents dryness of mouth. This in turn counteracts bad breath.
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