Bad breath
is a common health problem in the society.Offenssive smell from the mouth may
be due to various reasons.The main reason is the presence of anaerobic bacteria
in the biofilm formed on the tongue .These bacteria degrades the proteins
present in the food resulting in the production of some offenssive gases like
hydrogen sulphide,skatol ect.
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.
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written by:
Agus Kurniawan - Monday, October 1, 2012