Halitosis (bad breath) is a distressing condition in which persistent or frequent foul odor emanates from the mouth. It can affect all age groups, however, incidence increases with age.
Causes of Bad Breath
The cause of bad breath is usually due to fermentation of food particles left in the mouth, in deep pockets around teeth or back of the tongue, by bacteria that are normally found in the mouth.
The bad breath may be caused due to
- Dental issues
- Poor dental hygiene
- Cavities, gum diseases, etc.
- Smoking / tobacco-based products
- Certain foods such as garlic, onion, spicy foods
- Health disorders
- Dry mouth
- Diabetes
- Tonsillitis, Sinusitis, Foreign body in the nose
- Acid reflux
- Liver/ Kidney disease
- Crash dieting/Fasting
- Medication side effect
Management
It includes maintaining good dental hygiene and correction of underlying causes under the supervision of a doctor.
5 Remedies to Stop Bad Breath
- Dental care is the key to prevent or get rid of bad breath.
Do’s and Don’ts of the dental care routine
Do's Don'ts - Brush and floss teeth every day
- Remove dentures before sleeping and keep them clean
- Get regular oral check-ups
- Use mouthwash
- Replace your toothbrush every 2 months
- Quit smoking
- Do not brush hard
- Do not eat excessive sugary foods and drinks
- Do not skip meals
- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat healthily and include foods such as apples, carrots that require a lot of chewing.
- Rinse your mouth every time after having food
- Clean your tongue with a tongue cleaner or scraper
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Bad Breath
| Natural remedies | Properties |
|---|---|
| Fennel seeds | Breath sweetener |
| Cardamom | Mouth freshener |
| Cloves / aniseed | Antiseptic properties |
| Raw apple | Fight against garlic breath |
| Unripe Guava | Improves oral health |
| Yogurt | Reduces harmful bacteria in the mouth |
| parsley, mint or basil | Chlorophyll in plants neutralizes odor |
Rinse/ Gargle with
|
|
| Drink Green Tea | Antibacterial |
If bad breath persists even after making changes in your oral hygiene habits and lifestyle, talk to a doctor at DocOnline for guidance
FAQ
Maintain good dental hygiene and get oral check-ups.
It could be due to plaque build-up, cavities, or conditions such as dry mouth or acid reflux, etc
Rinse your mouth after eating, chew fennel seeds, cardamom and have green tea.
Dry mouth, infections (periodontitis, tonsillitis), acid reflux, etc can cause bad breath
