Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Bad breath is breath that has an unpleasant odor. It is a harmless condition known as ‘Halitosis’ in medical parlance. This odor can occur from time to time, or it can be long lasting, depending on the cause. Bad breath that results from an illness may be a long-term problem. It often can be controlled with proper medical care.
You may not always know that you have bad breath. That’s because odor-detecting cells in the nose eventually get used to the smell. Other people may notice and react by stepping away from you as you speak, or making a face.
CAUSES
– Poor dental hygiene: Infrequent or improper brushing and flossing, allows bits of food that are stuck between the teeth to decay inside the mouth. Poor oral hygiene eventually will lead to periodontal (gum) disease, which also can cause bad breath.
– Infections in the mouth: These can be caused by either a cavity in a tooth or by periodontal (gum) disease.
– Respiratory tract infections: Throat, sinus or lung infections
– External source: Garlic, onions, coffee, cigarette smoking, chewing tobacco. Smoking and drinking coffee, tea and/or red wine will contribute to your teeth becoming discolored.
– Dry mouth (xerostomia): This can be caused by salivary gland problems, medicines or “mouth breathing.” A large number of prescriptions and over the counter medicines cause dry mouth.
– Illnesses : Diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, sinus disease, reflux disease and others
– Psychiatric illness: Some people may believe they have bad breath, but others do not notice it. Known as”pseudohalitosis.”
– Dieting, fasting, or talking for long periods of time can get the saliva dried up causing bad breath.
– Hormonal changes – pregnancy or menstruation some times causes bad breathe.
– Some drugs including penicillamine and lithium especially when taken on a long term basis causes bad breathe.
– Drinking alcohol or smoking
– Tongue/ lip piercing can cause infections and their by bad breath.
PREVENTION
– 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 food articles like snacks and biscuits gargling is necessary. Brushing should be done twice daily. It is said that early morning brushing is for beauty and bed time brushing is for good health.
– Brushing techniques: brush vigorous brushing causes damage to the gums and 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)
– Tongue cleaning: White or yellowish coating on the tongue can cause bad breath. It should be cleaned gently with tongue cleaner.
– Tooth pick: should be used to remove food particles lodged between the gaps. Should be used carefully to avoid injury to gums.
– Foods: 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 unpleasant 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.
– Drink plenty of water: Dryness in the mouth can make a favorable 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.
Treatment
Psychological counseling: it is important aspect of treatment because person suffering from bad breath suffers from depression and isolates himself from society.
Homeopathic symptoms and cure
Homeopathic remedies are prescribed on the basis of symptoms rather than conditions, as each case of a particular illness can manifest differently in different people. There are many symptoms which can be effectively treated by homeopathy few symptoms are given below. If your symptoms are matching to any of the symptoms given below, it can be cured mail the disease and symptom number at drraishyam@gmail.com to know your medicine.
1. Bad breath due to gastric ulcer ( round ulcers in the mouth). Vomiting with bitter taste. Craves bear, Gastric complaints alternating with rheumatism.
2. Teeth dark and crumbly. Bitter taste in the mouth with putrid odor. Very rapid decay of teeth. All discharges are very offensive. Gums spongy and bleed easily. Bad breath due to caries and gastric complaints.
3. Restless patients with jealousy with black Tongue is Complaints are aggravated during sleep. Cannot tolerate tight clothing. Complaints aggravated in hot climate.
4. Foul breath with swollen gums, ulcerated lips or tongue and sour taste in the mouth. An over-sensitive nature, frequent ineffectual desire for stools and a tendency to catch colds.
5. Foul breath with dry tongue and sweetish taste in the mouth, Thirstlessness and a weeping nature.
6. Bad breath that is accompanied with either heartburn or constipation. Digestive problems after overindulging in food or drinking alcohol.
7. Foul breath in girls especially during puberty with suicidal thought. Thinks they had done unpardonable crime .There is ulceration in gums with putrid or bitter taste.
8. Breath fetid with bitter taste. Gums sore and ulcerated. Yellowish brown coating on centre of tongue with glistening edges. Surface of the tongue is cracked. Patients feel difficulty in swallowing solid food. Painless tonsillitis & pharyngitis with putrid smell, All discharges are offensive.
9. Offensive breath with gastric complaints and fur like coating on tongue. Filthy persons with aversion to bathing. Nostrils and lips are cracked, putrid eructation. Bad breath in children.
10. Hysterical person with offensive breath associated with loud eructation’s. Abdomen distended with sensation of a ball rising in throat, all discharges are offensive.
11. Plugs of mucus are continually forming in the crypts of the tonsils. Unnatural looseness of the teeth with or without pain. Prone to get caries with discoloration. Tonsils are enlarged with recurrent infection.
12. Patients are weak and debilitated .All body discharges are profuse with cadeveric smell. Gums are retracted and bleed easily. Frequent putrid eructation’s with distention of abdomen. Complaints better by passing flatus. Can’t tolerate meat and fat. Involuntary diarrhea at night, Wants to be fanned from a close distance.
13. Tongue yellow with imprint of teeth. Bad odor with bitter taste in the mouth with liver complaints. Thirst for hot liquids and feels better by eating. Constipation with hard round stools, Constipation alternating with diarrhoea.
14. Obese patients with skin troubles in whom Breath smells like urine. Blisters in the mouth with rotten and sour eructation’s due to gastric complaints, Feels better after eating.
15. Cadeveric smell in all discharges, Saliva is bloody with bad odor. Debilitated and Emaciated person having Thirst for warm water. Bad breath associated with gastric disorders. Vomiting from slightest food or drink and intolerance of vegetables and watery fruits. Patient will be fastidious with fear of death or serious disease with restlessness and anxiety.
16. Intelligent people who are physically weak. They have lack of self confidence, bad breath associated with sour eructation’s with burning in throat. Teeth excessively painful to touch. There are blisters on the tongue. Wants warm food and drinks. Patient is usually constipated .Craving for sweets well marked.
17. Sweetish metallic taste in the mouth with bloody viscid saliva. Gum is spongy and bleed easily, mouth is moist with increased thirst. Teeth indented. Crown of the teeth decay. Fetid odor from the mouth can be felt all over the room. Ulcerations in the mouth with bleeding. All body discharges are offensive. All complaints are worse at night.
18. Patient is short tempered and become angry very easily. They are very busy in their occupation and enjoy modern civilized life with all types of food and drink. Bad breath is more after meals and in the morning. Posterior part of the tongue is coated and anterior part is clean. Sour taste in the mouth with nausea in the morning. They have got frequent urge for stool. Heavy feeling in abdomen after food is noticed.
19. Bad breath of septic origin is cured with this medicine. Taste terribly fetid with horrible breath, tongue red, dry, smooth as if varnished. Bad breath associated with high fever and coffee ground vomiting. In general patients body is very sensitive to touch, can’t rest on bed because of bruised pain. All discharges are offensive.
20. People with offensive odor and a tendency for skin diseases. Lips dry bright red with burning sensation. Tongue white with red tip & borders. Bitter taste in the morning. Eructation’s are putrid. Burning in all parts of the body. Aversion to bathing. Not bothered about hygiene.
21. Dental caries with severe toothache .Pain better by eating. Salivation is better by eating. Toothache with swelling of gums.
22. Hawking up of cheesy, pea like balls of disgusting smell and taste is the main cause for bad breath in these patients. Tonsils are swollen with profuse offensive saliva. Quinsy with tough mucus in throat. All body secretions are filthy. Eructation’s taste like bad eggs. Very hungry and getup even at midnight for food. Swallowing is painful with pain in ears.
23. Foul breath, especially in old persons or adolescent girls, with restlessness and very sad nature.
24. Foul breath with bitter or metallic taste in the mouth, excessive salivation and intense thirst for large quantities of cold water. The tongue is thick and shows imprint of teeth. Nervous trembling and profuse, offensive perspiration.
25. Foul breath associated with spongy, bleeding gums and loose teeth. The tongue is clean and red. Nervousness, general weakness, strong-smelling urine and dry, cracked skin
26. Competitive, ambitious workaholics. Intolerant of criticism towards themselves, they are highly critical of others. They are hard working and thrive on challenges and are often found in managerial roles. For bad breath caused by overeating,
27. Bad breath associated with apthous ulcer in the mouth or fungal infection of the mouth. Mouth is very hot and tender. Ulcers bleed on touch. Bad breath in children with ulcers in the mouth. Child is having fear of downward motion.
28. Irritable persons who always talk about business. Lips parched dry and cracked. Tongue coated dark brown with bitter taste in the mouth. Thirst for large quantity of cold water is well marked. Heaviness in abdomen after eating. Usually constipated with hard dry stools.
29. Bad breath associated with fever and dryness of mouth. After tooth extraction or injury.. Patient is very sensitive to touch with sore and bruised feeling all over the body. Offensive eructation and flatulence.