Halitosis (or bad breath) is an unpleasant and embarrassing condition characterized by the emission of malodorous air from the mouth . The problem can be related to multiple factors.
More often than not, bad breath is the immediate (and trivial) consequence of taking particular foods (eg onion , garlic ), proving to be solved or easily masked by putting simple and natural remedies into practice. Other times, bad breath is due to dental diseases – such as pyorrhea (or periodontitis ), caries , pulpitis , rotten teeth – poor oral hygiene and use of antibiotics , antidepressants , diuretics and antihypertensives; in this case, the adoption of the most appropriate remedies is the exclusive responsibility of a doctor.
Sometimes, halitosis becomes a warning sign of even serious morbid processes, above all affecting the digestive system ( stomach acidity , digestive alterations , gastroesophageal reflux , peptic ulcer ), respiratory system ( pneumonia , sinusitis , rhinitis , tonsillitis ) and renal renal ).
The material published has the purpose of allowing rapid access to advice, suggestions and remedies of a general nature which doctors and textbooks usually dispense for the treatment of halitosis; these indications must in no way replace the opinion of the attending physician or other health specialists in the sector who are treating the patient.
What to do
- Drink plenty of waterand keep your mouth moist. Water and saliva help cleanse the mouth and teeth, facilitating the removal and removal of bacteria
- Brush your teeth immediately after waking up. In the morning, halitosis is a particularly common phenomenon due to the physiological reduction of salivaryflow . For this reason, the use of toothpaste and a brush upon waking is recommended
- Pay special attention to oral hygiene:
- Brush your teeth at least three times a day and after each snack
- After carefully brushing your teeth with toothpaste and toothbrush, rinse your mouth with delicate and refreshing mouthwashes
- Use dental flossat least once a day
- Let us briefly recall that one of the most common forms of bad breathdepends on incorrect oral hygiene
- Use toothpastesenriched in fluoride to prevent the formation of cavities , a possible cause of bad breath
- Chewing slowly and for a long time promotes food digestion
- Taking sugar-free candies and balsamic chewing gumis an excellent remedy for masking bad breath. The “therapeutic” anti-bad breath effect of balsamic gums and candies is enhanced by their ability to stimulate salivary secretions
- To effectively remove bad breath, it is necessary to root out the disease that caused it. Before undertaking any remedy for halitosis, it is strongly recommended that you consult your doctor
What NOT to do
- Smoking. Smoking is also an enemy of fresh breath. The toxins contained in it, in fact, give the breath a particularly unpleasant smell; moreover, smoking promotes dry mouth , aggravating bad breath
- Immoderate use of mouthwashes and antiseptic substances (disinfectants). Both poor dental hygiene and the excessive use of these products negatively affect the freshness of the breath. This statement is explained by the presence of essential oilsin mouthwashes: these substances, by exercising their astringent function , end up reducing salivation and promoting bad breath
- Fasting is NOT a good remedy for bad breath
- Use mouthwashes formulated with cloveextract (eugenol). Its essential oil , in fact, boasts a highly astringent power, responsible for reducing salivation. For this reason, the use of similar mouthwashes is not considered a valid remedy for bad breath
- Drinking alcohol: Alcohol can also promote bad breath
- Chew little and quickly
- Overeating: Overeatingis also the enemy of bad breath. In fact, the body, finding an exaggerated mass of food in the stomach , tends to slow down all digestive mechanisms and, as we know, digestive difficulty favors bad breath
What to eat
- Diet greatly affects the freshness of breath; therefore, following a healthyand balanced diet helps prevent bad breath:
- Drinking plenty of water (about 2 litres/day) helps keep the oral cavity clean and prevents dry mouth (possible cause of halitosis)
- Kefir, yoghurt and acidulated milk : some authors are convinced that these dairy products hinder the formation of halitosis. Indeed, the acidity of the aforementioned products can promote digestion , ensuring fresher breath
- Celeryand raw vegetables at will help keep the mouth fresh and clean
What NOT to eat
- Avoid the consumption of foods that are difficult to digest, such as sauces, fries and foods rich in fat and too tasty
- Excessively spicedfoods .
- Garlic and onion. If you just can’t do without it, combine these foods with a generous amount of parsley
- Milk and dairy products(limit consumption): some authors are of the opinion that the administration of milk and dairy products can promote halitosis as milk proteins are particularly appreciated by bacteria (which, by metabolising them, promote halitosis)
- Foods that decrease salivation: saltyfoods , foods rich in simple sugars
- Fishand preserved red meats (limit intake)
- Foods rich in tanninssuch as tea, wine and cocoa (limit their consumption), which promote dry mouth
Natural cures and remedies
Phytotherapy plays a prestigious role in the prevention and treatment of halitosis (especially the physiological type ):
- Avocado( Persea Gratissima ): natural remedy indicated to treat halitosis dependent on gastro-intestinal disorders. Despite having diuretic properties , avocado is indicated as a remedy against halitosis for its digestive capacity and for its richness in fiber
- Prepare a glass of hot water with 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar(the acidity of the vinegar favors digestion) + 1 teaspoon of honey (substance corrigens , i.e. capable of improving and correcting taste ).
- Mouthwashes formulated with disinfectant and antibacterial substances ( essential oils):
- Lemon( Citrus limon )
- Mandarin( Citrus nobilis )
- Bitter orange( Citrus aurantium )
- Mouthwashes formulated with substances with a balsamic and refreshingaction :
- Mint( Mentha piperita )
- Eucalyptus( Eucalyptus globulus )
- Digestive teas and stimulating salivary and biliary secretions :
- Fennel( Foeniculum vulgare )
- Anice( Pimpinella anisum )
- Cumin decoction( Carum carvi ): digestive properties, useful natural remedy against halitosis dependent on gastric disorders
- Aromaticplants such as sage ( Salvia officinalis ), rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) and parsley ( Petroselinum sativum )
Pharmacological treatments
- The ideal cure for bad breath depends on the cause that induced it. Given the multifactorial origin of the disorder, we report the classes of medicinal substances most used to treat the most common forms of halitosis:
- Mouthwashes and toothpastes: useful remedy to treat bad breath due to poor oral hygiene :
- of cetylpyridinium
- clorexidina
- chlorinedioxide
- zincand bicarbonate
- For the treatment of gastritis-dependent halitosis , the most used pharmacological remedies are:
- Antacid medications(e.g. aluminum and magnesium hydroxide )
- Proton pump inhibitors(eg pantoprazole , omeprazole , lansoprazole)
- Gastric mucosalprotectors (Ex. Sucralfate )
- For the treatment of peptic ulcerdependent halitosis , it is recommended to take:
- Histamine H2-receptor antagonists (g. nizatidine, cimetidine )
- Mouthwashes and toothpastes: useful remedy to treat bad breath due to poor oral hygiene :
Prevention
- Cleaning your teeth with toothpaste and a brush after each meal, at least three times a day, is a useful remedy to prevent bacteria from nesting in the oral cavity. Furthermore, cleaning the teeth is an important measure to prevent not only bad breath, but also pathologies of the oral cavity such as gingivitis, pyorrhea, tooth decay, etc.
- Get professional dental cleaning once every 6-12 months to remove plaqueand tartar , possible culprits of bad breath
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dry mouth
- Stop smoking
- Use dental floss at least once a day to improve the cleanliness of your teeth
- Avoiding the intake of certain foods such as garlic and onion is an excellent remedy to prevent bad breath
Medical treatments
- The so-called “physiological” bad breath – i.e. dependent on the assumption of certain foods that are enemies of fresh breath – can soon be masked by careful oral hygiene; the “bad breath” effect disappears as soon as the body completely eliminates that particular food . In such circumstances, it is not necessary to proceed with any specific medical treatment.
- Bad breath dependent on a pathology of the oral cavity first of all requires the treatment of the underlying disease. For example, caries may require an accurate filling, while pulpitis may require root canal or extraction . The healing of dental disease causes, as a consequence, the removal of bad breath.
- Bad breath dependent on gastric, renal or respiratory problems can only be eradicated after having treated the root cause. Consult your doctor.
