If you’re feeling down in the dumps….rumor has it it that you may not only have a bad attitude, but you you might have bad breath as well!  Pessimists are more likely to have dental problems, like halitosis, cavities, or missing and decayed teeth.  They are more likely to have a negative attitude about going to the dentist as well. 

This research was done on the attitudes and dental records of 1,037 people in the 30s.  These people also filled out questionnaires, one about their feelings towards dentists, and the other one rating character traits.   Some of these pessimists admitted being afraid of dental visits, avoiding checkups, and only going to the dentist when having an issue.  These people tended to be more easily stressed and less sociable.  Because of this, these people tended to have more tooth decay than those not afraid of going to the dentist, and had twice as many rotten/missing teeth and fillings by the age of 32.  These people generally had more anxiety problems and were more able to deal with life’s issues in a positive fashion.

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Most of us know that the offensive odor coming out of someone’s mouth can be associated with poor oral hygiene, gingivitis, caries, tonsilitis, tonsillar plaques, various foods, tobacco, dehydration, and various diseases in the body.  Homeopathy can be an effective cure for chronic bad breath because it treats the individual as a whore rather than targeting certain parts/organs.  Sometimes for a permanent bad breath cure, it can work if the physical, emotional, mental and social spheres of a person are targeted.  If these spheres are not in equilibrium, that’s when things tend to go awry. 

When using homeopathy to treat halitosis, it is important to note the other symptoms that a person is having.  Sometimes excess stress can attribute to bad breath.   In order to figure out the best remedy, one should take these precautions beforehand:

• Correct oral hygiene in the morning/bedtime
• Clearing saliva and nasal secretions often as well as clearing the throat
• Regular dental checkups for filling pockets or erosions, and avoidance of gum/dental problems
• Keep hydrated to prevent dry mouth and wash away food particles
• Use tongue scraper

Also, you should avoid:

• Cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and other stimulants
• Dairy products
• Garlic, onions
• Chocolates and other sweets

Also, underlying health conditions should be ruled out by doing the following:

• Endoscopy (sinuses)
• CT scan (nasal obstruction, lung issues, etc)
• Blood tests (diabetes, infections, allergies, metabolic diseases)
• Urine tests (diabetes, ketone bodies, metabolic diseases)

Temporary treatments:

• Cleansers, pastes, mouthwash, mouth deodorants, tongue scrapers/wipers
• Chewing gum increases salivary gland production
• Cloves, camphor, cardamom, green pudhina leaves, guava leaves, betel leaves can mask the foul stench

Permanent treatment can only be successful if the root cause of the halitosis is diagnosed.  These treatments should be given for issues like recurring colds, sinusitis, dental issues, gingivitis, stomatitis, indigestion, and so on. 

Homeopathic remedies for bad breath most commonly are: Asafoetida, Baptisia, Baryta mur, Benzoic acid, Bromium, Calc carb, carbolic acid, Carbo animalis, Carbo veg, Crot – hor, Graphites, Hepa sulf, Kali sulp, Merc sol, Nat sulp, Nit acid, Opium, Plantago, Psorinum, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox, Sepia, Silicea, Staphysagria, Sulphur, Tarentula, Tellurium, Thuja, and Tuberculinum.

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A recent survey about hygiene was done by a dental hygienist.  She asked questions dealing with teeth and other aspects of keeping clean.

Teeth Survey Results

Experts say that ideally you should brush three times a day and floss at least once a day.  Two brushings a day is usually the bare minimum recommended for maintaining good oral hygiene.  Biofilm, also known as plaque, is one of the main reasons it is necessary to brush.  The least amount of damage it can do is cause cavities, and it can even cause periodontal disease (gum disease) and bone loss.

Biofilm has even more serious threats than tooth loss!  Scientists have also seen the same bacteria found in cavities in clogged blood vessels. Since biofilm can threaten the teeth and the ability to eat, it can even affect the immune system negatively. Gum disease, as we have read before in articles about pregnancy gingivitis, can affect pre-term babies in a negative manner as well. Bad breath is also an obvious consequence of biofilm.

People must acknowledge that poor oral hygiene and maintenance can have devastating long-term consequences, since the mouth and the rest of the body are all inter-related.

According to the survey results, only 12% of people said they brushed more than twice a day; 41% said twice a day, 42% only once a day, and 5% said they went a full day without brushing sometimes.  Roughly half of people brush as much as they should!

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Dr. Katz discusses how to spot and stop bad breath on KSWB Fox 5 San Diego. Do you have bad breath?

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A condition called Zenker’s diverticulum is yet another cause of bad breath. A diverticulum is a small pouch, and with this condition, the pouch sticks out from the back of the throat and adjacent part of the esophagus. It usually forms later in life, and the affected people usually complain about food sticking in their throats. Usually, the food is stuck in the pouch, and is actually undergoing digestion there. Sometimes, the partially digested food is regurgitated back into the mouth, thus causing halitosis. Furthermore, the sufferers of this condition may have coughing and choking as symptoms.

Surgery can be performed in order to fix this problem, and this can be done by making small incisions, and the pouch can be removed with special instruments and a scope. Sometimes the pouch can be removed without any incision, and the scope being sent down the throat.

Keep in mind, though, Zenker’s diverticulum is rare, and halitosis is common.

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 Most of us know now that bad breath (halitosis) can be caused by: cavities; dentures; smoking; alcohol; lung, tonsils, adenoid, sinus or throat infections; certain foods (garlic, onions, high sugar products, spicy foods, dairy products); poor oral hygiene; and so on.  We’ve also discussed many different possible cures.  Here are some natural remedies you may not have suspected:

• Bee Propolis (a resinous mixture that is collected by bees from tree buds and other sources) helps gum infections, as well as other infections.  Obviously, if one is allergic to bees, he or she should not try this method of diffusing bad breath.  Propolis has been used as an antimicrobial, emollient, immunomodulator, dental anti-plaque agent,anti-tumor growth agent, and even in food and musical instruments.
• Drink water to moisten the mouth, which increases the strength of saliva in the mouth, that cleanses the bad breath bacteria
• Use a tongue scraper to help remove bacteria
• Use an odorless form of garlic, which is a natural antiobiotic
• Zinc also has an antibacterial effect
• Add half a lemon to a glass a water, and gargle with it
• When brushing the gums and tongue, use powdered cloves, an herbal remedy for bad breath.  One can keep cloves under the molars without chewing to help maintain fresh breath.
• Avoid foods like blue cheese, salami, curry, tuna, garlic, onions, anchovies, red meat, milk, coffee, cola, etc.
• Parsley is a natural deodorizer
• Cardamom is a breath sweetener
• Cranberries help fight off the bad breath-causing bacteria
• Eating a green/raw Guava will help stop bad breath
• Fruits that are high in Vitamin C, like citrus and oranges, will help control the bad bacteria
• Eucalyptus Oil is found in many toothpastes and other oral products because it has an active antiseptic ingredient, Eucalyptol
• Sometimes chewing on sugarless gum or eating sugarless candies will help keep the mouth moist and not contribute to the growth of bad oral bacteria
• Edible camphor helps against bad breath caused by tonsilitis, sinusitis, and head colds, since it is a very effective throat stimulant.  It helps get rid of clogged mucus, making it a natural and effective nasal decongestant. 

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Prevent bad breath today by listening to Dr. Katz’ instructions on ABC News about the cures.

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Next time you think about skipping breakfast in the morning, think about the consequences it may have on your breath!   This is one cause of bad breath that is easy to overcome.  If you miss breakfast for whatever reason, or if you are anorexic, you extend your morning breath until you eat something.  Why does this happen?  When you are sleeping, your brain knows that you will not be eating.  Your brain in turn slows down saliva production.  Saliva has a high concentration of oxygen (which is a natural enemy of bad breath and gum disease-causing bacteria), the lack of saliva makes it easier for the bacteria to reproduce.  As soon as you eat something in the morning, the salivary glands kick in and provide oxygen-rich saliva to dissipate morning breath. 

If one does not drink enough fluids, he or she may have halitosis from dry mouth. Also, there is also something called “hunger breath”, which is caused by ketosis, a medical condition in which the body starts breaking down fat if the person is not consuming enough calories.  Ketones are produced in ketosis, and if there are large amounts of ketones being produced, the acidity of the blood can be increased.  In turn, the body tries to lower the pH by ridding itself of the ketones in the lungs and urine, thus causing bad breath.  In a low-carb diet, this is actually the main principle, since the body is tricked into thinking it is undergoing famine, even if the person is continuing the same calorie intake.  Often times, people who are on extreme diets like high protein, low-carbohydrate or have eating disorder problems have chronic bad breath.  The food that you eat can affect your breath, at least for a short time, especially if you eat foods with garlic, onions and curry.

Most of the time, sulfur compounds created by oral bacteria when food is broken down in the mouth cause halitosis.  People who have dental plague have even more of these bacteria.  If one has a gum infection (periodontal disease, etc.) , sinus infection, or tonsilitis, he or she is much more likely to have bacteria causing a bad smell.  Dry mouth causes bad breath because there is less saliva in the mouth to wash the bacteria away. 

Of course, there are many other causes of bad breath, but some of the aforementioned causes can be overlooked sometimes.  All in all, the smell of your breath can be determined by how healthy you are, and not just your oral hygiene.  Drink plenty of water in order to keep your mouth moist, don’t miss breakfast, and practice proper oral hygiene on a daily basis.

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Bad breath is a dilemma that is even more common in pregnant women. The hormonal changes encountered in women who are expecting make her dental condition weaker, thus making her more susceptible to halitosis. Not all pregnant women have this problem, but the percentage is definitely higher.

There are many tips out there for pregnant women to take heed to, and one of them might be to increase the calcium intake because calcium deficiency often happens in pregnant women. Calcium supplements may be recommended for both during and after pregnancy because it makes the teeth stronger and prevents other oral problems like gum disease and bad breath. Since women should not take in any chemicals that could endanger a baby’s health, it is especially hard to treat conditions like gingivitis during pregnancy.

Also, since pregnant women should not use most mouthwashes because of the chemical content, they need to find other ways to treat halitosis. Herbal alternatives may be recommended for preventing the anaerobic bacteria that causes bad breath during pregnancy. Some herbal cures may include lemon oil, peppermint oil, or lime oil for starters. Also, expecting mothers can try gargling water with salt and drinking fresh lemon juice to prevent bad breath.

If one goes through the efforts of trying these herbal cures and practicing good oral hygiene, she should be able to get rid of bad breath quickly. Not all problems can be solved with a store-bought medication, so it’s worthwhile to look at the natural alternatives. Also, one should make sure she does not have another underlying medical condition that causes the bad breath, so she should schedule checkups with her doctor if she is having persistent halitosis. This is the best way to keep expecting moms and their babies healthy.

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Especially nowadays, many people are interested in alternative treatments to ailments like halitosis. Chinese herbs can be useful in treating bad breath without you having to worry about harsh chemicals. Of course, before using these herbs, you should have a consultation with an expert in the field so you can take any necessary precautions. Bitter herbs can be used to treat halitosis along with mouth ulcers; irritability; thirst; increased hunger; red tongue; red, swollen, or ulcerated gums; swollen lips or mouth; dry mouth; yellow coated tongue, and so on. Some common herbs used in Chinese medicine for banishing bad breath are Shan Zhi Zi, Huang Lian, and Mu Dan Pi. Various concoctions including other herbs such as trifala, senne leaves, aloe vera, and rhubarb can also get rid of bad breath.

If you are serious about getting rid of your bad breath and are not sure what is causing it, you should check with a doctor so you take the correct path in treating it.

According to Chinese medicine, one should regularly eat “cool” foods (low in temperature) like cabbage, lettuce, pears, peaches, oranges, melons (cantaalope, watermelon, honey dew), zucchini, cucumber, corn, snow peas, celery, carrots, and broccoli. It is also recommended that you should reduce the amount of spicy/hot foods, greasy/fatty foods, alcohol, and coffee that you consume if you want to avoid dragon breath.

You can combine Chinese remedies, “cool” foods, and recommendations from a licensed acupuncture physician in order to combat your halitosis.

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