Eliminate bad breath with home remedies

Bad breath, formally known as halitosis, is a frequent problem in the population and it can be a simple social inconvenience or hide more serious problems behind it. It is the unpleasant smell that is exhaled through the mouth when breathing, speaking or holding it open.

Having strong breath can cause serious social inconvenience, to the point of withdrawing the person who suffers from it and avoiding talking to others so as not to expel their unpleasant breath.

Social stigma tends to be more damaging than the underlying cause (in most cases), and must be taken into account, as it can affect a person’s way of behaving and living.

Most common causes of bad breath

Bad breath is not an ailment in itself, however, it can be caused by a more serious health problem, so it should not be neglected.

Halitosis is usually caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits or by eating foods that favor it.

There are some foods that can cause strong breath, such as those with a lot of garlic, cabbage, or those in which there are raw onions or foods that tend to feel bad for those who eat them, such as raw peppers or some fermented ones. Certain types of very strong cheeses can also leave an odorous trail behind and contaminate the breath of those who consume it.

There are more than eighty physiological causes for halitosis, among the most common are:

• Dental problems, whether in the form of cavities, abscesses or gum diseases such as bacterial gingivitis. Dentures can also cause bad breath.
• Excessive alcohol consumption is a common cause of bad breath, although it is easily preventable.
• Following a diet with an unbalanced pH can also be a trigger for halitosis.
• Coffee is a common element that causes halitosis on a regular basis.
• Any disease that causes gastroesophageal reflux.
• Lung or respiratory diseases caused by bacteria.
• The sinusitis can also cause breath odor due to bacterial infection of the mucous membranes.
• Throat diseases and infections, especially if they are caused by bacteria.
• Smoking is another major cause of unpleasant breath.
• Taking an excess of vitamin supplements can cause this problem, as well as taking certain medications, especially if they are aggressive on the stomach.
• Stomach problems, whether mild or severe, almost always cause heavy breath.

In addition to these causes, which are the most common, bad breath can be caused by much more serious health problems that require immediate treatment, such as:

• Ulcerative gingivitis, acute necrotizing.
• Ulcerative mucositis, acute necrotizing.
• Severe or chronic kidney failure.
• Severe intestinal obstruction.
• Bronchiectasis
• Esophagus cancer.
• Stomach cancer .
• Hepatic encephalopathy .
• Diabetic cetoacidosis. It’s the classic fruity-scented breath.
• Lung abscess.
• Atrophic rhinitis .
• Zenker’s diverticulum.

When to contact a doctor

There are a multitude of home and professional remedies to combat bad breath. However, when you have tried to eliminate using different formulas but it is not possible and there is no apparent cause, such as smoking, drinking alcohol or eating certain foods, it is a good time to consult a professional to evaluate the situation.

Likewise, if there is a high fever , pain in the area of ​​the face or symptoms of a significant respiratory infection, you should also go to the doctor’s office.

In general, bad breath tends to be resolved without any ailments behind it, although it is always convenient to rule out possible pathologies.

What to Expect at the Doctor Visit

First, the family doctor will do a physical exam of the person and ask about their medical history.

The most common questions a doctor asks about a halitosis problem are:

• Does your breath smell like ammonia, fruity, fishy, ​​stool, or alcoholic?
• Do you usually eat or have you eaten foods that may be causing the odor?
• Are you taking any type of medication or vitamin supplement?
• Do you smoke or drink regularly?
• Have you visited the dentist in the last time? Do you have good dental hygiene?
• Do you notice any other symptoms?

Next, in the physical exam, the doctor will examine the mouth and nose. If any type of infection is found, you can have a culture done.

If your doctor suspects that diabetes or kidney failure may be the cause of your unpleasant breath, he or she will order blood tests.

Other tests that may be done are endoscopy, abdominal X-ray, or chest X-ray.

Depending on what you find out, your treatment will vary or you will recommend a change in lifestyle for the person. If bad breath is caused by some type of bacterial infection, you can prescribe antibiotics.

Sometimes the GP may refer the patient to a specialist in the digestive system for further tests or for more specific treatment.

Home remedies to combat bad breath

There are a multitude of home remedies to try to overcome unpleasant breath. The main thing to achieve this is to try to identify the cause that is generating it to eradicate the root problem.

If this is not achieved, a series of general tips can always be followed that will surely improve the problem and allow the person to talk to others without feeling embarrassed by their encouragement.

One way to temporarily mask the smell is to chew on fresh mint or parsley leaves. Some gum can also mask bad odor.

As a general recommendation, smoking, drinking alcohol and consuming a lot of coffee should be avoided.

Other home remedies and easy to apply to fight halitosis are:

• Water. Being well hydrated is essential to achieve general well-being and to avoid bad breath. In addition, the water also works as a mouthwash and helps clean the area of ​​possible food debris. Drinking water stimulates the production of saliva .
• The baking soda can be a great ally to get rid of bad breath. It helps to reduce acidity in the mouth and prevents bacteria from multiplying. It can be used to brush your teeth or to gargle or rinse.
• Fennel seeds have the ability to freshen the breath and prevent it from smelling bad. You can take a teaspoon of the seeds and chew slowly until they dissolve in your mouth. In addition to its pleasant smell, fennel has antibacterial qualities, which greatly favors the fight against strong breath. If used as a condiment for meals, it helps calm the stomach and protects it from stronger foods.
• Black tea and green tea have compounds called polyphenols, which help to effectively fight unpleasant breath by stopping the growth of the bacteria that cause it. It can be taken mixed with other aromatic herbs to enhance the antihalitosis effect, such as mint.
• Clove is a great antiseptic that can effectively help fight strong, unpleasant breath. In addition to killing the bacteria that cause it, it leaves a pleasant smell after chewing. It can be consumed directly or in the form of an infusion; likewise, the infusion can be used to drink or to make rinses.
• Sage has important antibacterial properties that are very beneficial to treat different ailments or to fight against halitosis. It can be used by chewing the leaves directly or infusing them in boiling water. As with cloves, the infusion can be left to stand and be used as a gargle.
• Taking a tablespoon of cider vinegar dissolved in water before meals helps to have better digestions, thus reducing the chances of unpleasant breath. It can also be taken after eating, or it can be used as a gargle.
• Lemon has many qualities, among them is its antibacterial power. Rinsing your mouth with lemon, or consuming its juice diluted in water or in the form of an infusion, helps to avoid halitosis.

Halitosis is a more common problem than it is believed, but it generates social stigma, so it is usually suffered in silence.

If the advice given above is not enough to get fresh breath, a specialized professional can find the key to achieve it. It is important not to get carried away by the embarrassment that bad breath generates and to go to the consultation to be able to solve it.

Living a healthy lifestyle and changing harmful habits is the key to good health and fresh breath. Taking care of ourselves will benefit us in every way.