BAD BREATH
MOST PEOPLE HAVE bad breath now and again; it’s the constant or recurring cases of bad breath that can offend friends and loved ones and become a real social problem. There are a number of causes of bad breath and, fortunately, most of them are easily dealt with using simple natural techniques.
Whatever the cause of your bad breath I should tell you that the most common remedy is not only ineffective, it’s counterproductive. I’m talking about mouthwashes. Mouthwashes are a combination of flavors, a bit of dye, and too much alcohol. (Children have been brought to the edge of death by drinking mouthwash!) While the claims that mouthwashes kill bacteria are true, it’s also true that the bacteria quickly come back-and in greater force than before you used the mouthwash. But in addition to being ineffective, mouthwash can also be dangerous. Too much mouthwash is irritating to the gums, the palate, the tongue, and the mucous membranes of the mouth. And in a small percentage of people who are susceptible, and particularly if they smoke and drink, heavy use of mouthwash can cause certain types of cancer.
If you do want to use something to freshen your breath, you can put a few drops of peppermint oil in a glass of water and rinse (don’t swallow it). You can get peppermint oil at a pharmacy.
Bad breath, or halitosis, has a number of causes, the most obvious being bad dental hygiene. If you don’t brush your teeth regularly and well, bits of pieces of food will become lodged between your teeth and will decompose, causing a bad odor. You probably already know that you should brush your teeth carefully twice a day, but there are some other measures you can take to fight bad breath.
Brushing your tongue is probably the single most effective thing you can do. In studies, it has been shown that brushing the tongue alone is a better guard against bad breath than brushing only the teeth. Brushing both teeth and tongue can help reduce bad breath due to poor dental hygiene almost entirely. You don’t need to scrub your tongue; just gently brush it with a soft-bristled brush to wash away the microscopic bits of food that become trapped in the tiny protuberances.
Flossing is also important for fresh breath. It liberates bits of food and gunk that could otherwise promote odor. Floss at least once a day, preferably just before brushing. If you use dentures, don’t forget to clean them regularly and thoroughly. Like natural teeth, they harbor food and bacteria that can cause bad breath.
Don’t forget to change your toothbrush regularly. You should replace your old toothbrush about every two months. Not only does a fresh toothbrush clean more effectively, it also eliminates any buildup of bacteria that’s begun to colonize your old one.
Brushing after every meal is a good way to fight bad breath, but most of us can’t do it. Instead, just swish a mouthful of water around and spit it out along with bits of food that could otherwise invite bad breath microorganisms to grow on your tongue and teeth.
What you eat can sometimes help fight bad breath. Snacks like carrots, apples, and celery all help to fight the development of plaque on the teeth. Cleaner teeth mean fresher breath.
In addition to keeping your mouth clean, you have to keep it healthy. A twice-yearly visit to your dentist for a thorough cleaning and examination will eliminate other major causes of bad breath. Bleeding gums can cause bad breath and so can untreated cavities and abscesses. Your dentist can help you deal with these problems. See Periodontal Disease, page 272, for more information.
Of course poor dental hygiene is not responsible for all bad breath. Some foods are well-known offenders-garlic would probably be first on anyone’s list. But there are others: Onions, hot peppers, cheeses including blue cheese, Camembert, and Roquefort, spicy oily meats including pastrami, pepperoni, and salami, and even anchovies can cause major breath problems. Drinks that can cause problems with your breath include coffee, beer, wine, and whiskey.
What do you do about these foods and drinks if you want to avoid bad breath? The bad news is that you just have to avoid them. The problem is that the food residue doesn’t just lie on your teeth waiting to be brushed away: It goes into your digestive tract and into your bloodstream and eventually permeates your whole body so that every breath picks up the offending odor in your lungs and broadcasts it. This is why it can take up to twenty-four hours to get rid of some offending smells.
There are other causes of bad breath, some of which have to be dealt with by a physician. Constant postnasal drip from sinusitis (see Sinusitis, page 308) can cause bad breath. So can alcoholism, kidney failure, or liver disease, as well as certain medications. An ulcer can give you bad breath (see Ulcers, page 335), as can chronic indigestion (see Indigestion, page 212). If you have bad breath for more than a few days, your dental hygiene is good, and you haven’t been eating or drinking offending foods, you should check with your doctor’ for other causes.
NATURAL PRESCRIPTION FOR BAD BREATH
Avoid the use of commercial mouthwashes; instead rinse your mouth with a few drops of peppermint oil (from a pharmacy) mixed in a glass of water. Don’t swallow the water.
Brush your teeth carefully twice a day.
Floss your teeth once a day, preferably before brushing.
Clean dentures carefully,
Change your toothbrush every two months,
If you can’t brush after meals, simply rinse your mouth with plain water.
Snack on carrots, celery, and apples.
Visit your dentist twice yearly for a thorough cleaning and examination and to eliminate other causes of bad breath: cavities, bleeding gums gums, abscessed teeth.
Eliminate offending food and drink, including garlic, raw onions, hot peppers, anchovies, cheeses Including blue cheese, Camembert, and Roquefort, oily meats including salami, pastrami, and pepperoni, and drinks such as coffee, beer, wine, and whiskey.
IN ADDITION:
If, after following these recommendations, you continue to have bad breath, you should consult your doctor, as bad breath can also be a sign of indigestion, sinusitis, throat infection, lung infection, kidney disease, chronic alcoholism, or a problem with medications.
