Bad Breath Remedies

Bad breath, also known as Halitosis in medical terminology, is an unpleasant odor that exits the mouth while breathing. This occurrence can be both embarrassing and troubling to many who suffer from the airborne nuisance. There are different types of bad breath, which occur for different reasons and therefore require different treatments.

Temporary bad breath is commonly caused by a dry mouth, poor oral hygiene, certain types of food and/or smoking. Any one or a combination of these can result in bad breath. Another common type of temporary bad breath is known as morning breath, which occurs first thing in the morning as an individual opens his/her eyes. Chronic bad breath is often caused by certain medical conditions, medications and/or oral buildup.

The determination of bad breath is often made by the person who suffers from it. Dryness or pasty feelings in the mouth and/or an unpleasant taste are both symptoms of bad breath. The best way for a quick, and temporary, relief is to drink a glass of water. This will restore moisture in the mouth and will help to provide some fast results.

The treatment for bad breath may include regular dental visits and proper cleaning, brushing 2 to 3 times daily or after every meal, regular flossing, a change in food consumption and/or diet regimen. In addition, many bad breath sufferers find that brushing the tongue will help to rid the mouth of bacteria that could later lead to a foul odor. Unfortunately for many who suffer from chronic bad breath due to an illness or necessary medication, the only plan of action against bad breath is to mask the problem as effectively as possible. A mouthrinse, chewing gum or breath freshener may help to reduce the noticeability of bad breath.

Anyone who suffers from bad breath may wish to carry a packet of chewing gum, breath mints and/or breath spray for quick relief. In the event that it isn’t always possible to brush after every meal, such as often the case when dining at work or with colleagues, these items will help to mask any odor until the individual is able to properly cleanse their mouth.

Teach your Kids about Bad Breath

Poor oral hygiene leads to bad breath and the social ostracizing of a child. People are not usually aware that they have bad breath and it is not something that one can mention, even to a friend, without causing offense.

Once anyone is conscious that their breath may smell they become very aware of how they speak and how close they are standing to other people. This unhealthy attitude is so easy to avoid by teaching your children good oral hygiene.

Milk teeth are replaced by adult teeth by the time a child is about 8 years old. The final adult teeth, the wisdom teeth, may appear 10 years later, or may only partially erupt from their gum. Good teeth habits need to start early. These basically include brushing teeth, cutting down on sweet foods and visiting the dentist regularly.

Good teeth or at least well fitting dentures are essential for comfortable speech and eating. Lots of people have come to assume that bright white teeth are the only good teeth - Not so.

Dentist's visits are no longer the source of fear for children that they were for their parents or grandparents. Dentists are generally pleasant, if over-paid, professionals. They try their hardest to make their surgery pleasant and relaxing, especially for children.

A large percentage of 11 year old children already have fillings in their teeth. These fillings have a life of 5-10 years, so these individuals will be visiting the dentist regularly for life. Some children have no fillings whatsoever, and this is not because their parents are any more successful in teaching dental hygiene.

The orthodontist and dental braces are feared by parents and children alike. The "Jaws" appearance of some braces leads children to fear name-calling and loss of opportunity with the opposite sex. Parents worry about the cost of all that metalwork.

There are many more ortho-dontal options than there ever were just a few years ago. Do your research, find out your options and do your best for your kids' long-term health.

Bad Breath in Children

There are specific reasons that there may be problem of bad breath in children. There are several factors which may influence the production of bad breath, and some of these are particularly likely to be found in children.

Depending on their age, children can have a habit of putting things up their noses, which may become lodged and lead to bad breath. It's not unusual for children to poke small objects into their mouths and noses. If there is a suspicion of this, it is probably best to allow a doctor to probe and remove the foreign object. There may be an indicator of this activity if there is a discharge from the nose. It's also been reported that small swallowed objects can become lodged in the passages and cause bad breath.

The habit of oral hygiene needs to be instilled in children while they are growing up. It's fairly well established that children are not necessarily fastidious in keeping their teeth and mouths clean, and the presence of old food may provide a good breeding ground for the bacteria that cause decomposition and smelly breath. Children should always be encouraged and taught to maintain the highest standards of oral hygiene, as this is a habit that they will carry with them through their lives.

When considering a case of chronic bad breath in children, the usual factors that create the problem in adults should not be ignored. These would include dry mouth, which creates an environment conducive to the bacteria flourishing. While it should be expected that children would not be so prone to bad breath from chewing tobacco, or from drinking alcohol, they are more prone to diseases that affect the saliva glands, and to getting respiratory or throat and mouth infections. These in themselves may cause direct odor, and they will also aggravate the problem by causing mouth breathing and drying out.

Post nasal drip is a particular problem found in young children which can cause bad breath. The bacteria causing the smelly breath tend to be at home on the back of the tongue, and this is exactly where the nasal drip concentrates. The nasal drip itself is a chemical compound that is reported from research to act as a fuel to the bacteria. It contains protein made up of amino acids that are broken down to hydrogen sulfide and other smells.

If it appears that your child has a persistent bad breath problem, it would be wise to consult your physician for assistance in diagnosing and curing the issue.

How to Cure Bad Breath

Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath. Many people suffer from it either temporarily or as a chronic problem. Common causes are odiferous foods, smoking, poor oral hygiene, sinus conditions and medical issues. There are many cures for this ailment that are simple to use. If problems persist, though, it is advisable to seek the authority of a dentist or medical professional to rule out any serious dental or medical issues.

Certain foods such as garlic and onions produce bad breath. This is not a serious condition and will resolve itself in little time. Also, smoking can produce bad breath. Smoking can contribute to more serious dental and gum issues but the odor associated with smoking is unavoidable. It is, of course, recommended that smokers quit but short of that, there is little prevention for smoker’s breath. For a temporary fix, brush your teeth, chew gum or use a mint.

People with sinus conditions produce mucus that can be foul smelling. As a treatment for the sinus condition, a patient may be prescribed antihistamines which can cause dry mouth. If the mouth does not produce enough saliva to remain moist, this will cause bad breath. This is also why people have morning breath after sleeping for several hours allowing the mouth to dry out. Brushing and drinking plenty of water will help alleviate this.

There are several natural remedies found to help counteract the effects of bad breath. Chewing cardamom seeds, sunflower seeds, mint leaves and parsley are known to deodorize. Gargling with a mixture of lemon juice and water also helps. Brushing with baking soda and adding it to water for gargling is a popular choice in home remedies. Drinking teas with spices such as cardamom, anise, cinnamon and fennel are all reported to help sweeten breath.

The best way to treat bad breath is to ensure proper dental care. Brushing and flossing regularly will help deter bacteria from forming on teeth and tongue. As food particles can get trapped between teeth, flossing is essential to ensure plaque does not accumulate. Regular trips to the dentist for professional cleaning are also advised. When brushing, ensure a good toothbrush is used and do not neglect the tongue. Bacteria can get trapped on the tongue as well so thoroughly brush it.

If bad breath is a persistent condition, seek consultation with a dentist. It may be a sign of a more serious dental issue or gum disease. If a dentist rules out dental problems as a cause, a referral to a medical doctor may be in order. Certain conditions such as liver and kidney diseases can contribute to bad breath.

Why do you have bad breath?

Many people think they suffer from bad breath. Are you one of them? It is actually quite hard to smell your own breath. One good trick is to lick the back of your hand wait 30 seconds and then smell the back of your hand or you could just ask a close friend.

So what causes the smell?

In 85 - 90% of cases the smell is caused by the bacteria that are living on the back of the tongue. These bacteria live in the hairs on the back of the tongue and produce horrible chemicals when they break down food particles which in turn produce the smells. These are called volatile sulphur compounds or VSC. If you look at the back of your tongue you will notice it is rougher and it has more hairs this is generally the area where the malodour originates from.

It is usually worse in the morning because saliva production slows during the night and your mouth dries out. Saliva is good because it washes away the bacteria and food particles and also it has lots of goodies in it which slow down the activity of the bacteria

We recommend treating this by using a tongue scraper to remove the bacteria from the back of the tongue (see OrafreshTongue Scraper).Sounds easy but it can make people gag initially. Some times of the day are worse than others so try and find a time when it is easier for you to do this. After a period of time people generally get more used to it & can then move gradually further back on their tongue. It is amazing what comes of the back of your tongue! For best results this should be done once a day and your tongue scraper should be replaced at least 6 monthly. After using the tongue scraper for a while (a few weeks daily), try stopping it & you will be able to detect the generally fouler taste in your mouth.

We then recommend the use of a mouthwash containing chlorine dioxide (see CloSYS II Mouthwash). The chlorine dioxide neutralises the VSC's and kills the bacteria that produces them, it does not just cover a smell it eliminates the cause. This mouthwash does not contain alcohol which most other preparations do therefore it does not dry the mouth and reduce saliva flow which can make bad breath worse if used over a long period of time.

Advanced or chronic periodontal disease can cause the same smells. The bacteria are living in pockets down between the tooth and gum and this does need to be treated by your dentist. Check out our Toothbrushing Technique and Do I have Gum Disease? To make sure you understand the process and are cleaning correctly.

In about 5% of cases the smell can be caused by sinus infection and post-nasal drip, with similar types of bacteria involved. This an area for your medical practitioner if it is chronic so please see your doctor if this is a regular occurrence for you

In about 3% of cases a long term infection in your tonsils can be the cause of bad breath. If you have eliminated all other causes then again check with your doctor if your tonsils are involved. Very rarely some medical conditions can cause bad breath.

How do I get fresh breath ?

1. Scrape the back of the tongue as a matter of routine once a day
2. Make sure you have the correct brushing technique and inter dental cleaning technique
3. See your dentist to eliminate the possibility of gum disease
5. Drink plenty of water to keep you mouth moist and saliva flow normal
6. Chewing sugar free chewing gum will increase your saliva flow (see Recaldent and Biotene Products) Be careful as this can increase jaw/joint problems.
7. Use CloSYS II once a day to reduce bacteria numbers and eliminate VSC's