Remedies for Bad Breath: What I Need to Do?

One of most common oral problem seen in 50% of the population is Bad breath. The most important thing is to find the cause of the bad breath and then to treat it.

Mostly the bad breath can be treated at home, with certain home remedies. If the cause identified is systemic, then you would have to visit a doctor, depending upon the problem.

What are the Home Remedies for Bad Breath?

There are a number home remedies of bad breath which can be easily done at home.

Brush your teeth

Brush at least twice a day using a pea size of fluoridated toothpaste. Brush for minimum of 2 minutes. Rinse your mouth after every meal. You can also rinse your mouth with luke warm water with salt 4-5 times a day and this will help in reducing the bad breath.

Change your toothbrush once every 3-4 months.

Cleaning of tongue is very very important every time you brush as a dirty tongue is the main cause of bad breath. You can either use a tongue cleaner or simple use the brush to clean the tongue.

Floss

Flossing is as important as brushing. The food that accumulates in between the teeth can only be removed with floss and not with a tooth brush. So, make sure to floss your teeth at least once every day.

Clean your Dentures

Clean your dentures, or any other removable appliances you might be wearing once or twice every day, as they are the main source of food accumulation and therefore bad breath. Remove your denture in the night before you sleep.

Stop Smoking

Stop smoking or using tobacco. Not just bad breath, smoking affects your overall health as well. If you are finding it difficult to quit, you can make an appointment with your doctor and he or she will guide and help you to quit the habit. There are a plenty of options available, like gums, patches, de addiction centers, therapy etc. And there is nothing to hesitate or feel shy of.

Quit Alcohol

Like using tobacco, alcohol also causes dependency, and not just bad breath but other problems too. Liver damage is most frequently seen in alcoholics. So, quitting the habit is the best solution.

Diet

You can modify the diet a bit. Avoid foods with aromatic fragrance like onions, garlic, strong spices etc. If you are fond of these food you can avoid them in the breakfast and lunch and have in the dinner. As, during the day, you might be meeting people.

Avoid Dry Mouth

Drink plenty of water if you have a dry mouth, or you have a mouth breathing habit. You can suck on sugar free candies which will stimulate the salivary flow and avoid dry mouth. You can visit your doctor and get a proper clinical examination done if you have a dry mouth very often.

Mouthwash

You can occasionally use an over the counter mouth wash and rinse twice a day. You can follow the instruction on how to use the mouth wash which would be written behind the pack. Swish it around your mouth for around 30 seconds before spitting. Mouth washes do not have a very long lasting effect on bad breath though.

You can also make it a habit to rinse your mouth with luke warm water with some salt every day at least once. This too prevents halitosis.

When should I visit a dentist/physician?

I have tried all the home remedies but still I have bad breath very frequently. Should I visit a doctor?

The answer to this is YES!! If you have tried all the home remedies for a week or so, and still you have bad breath it is better to visit your doctor and get it checked.

Visit a dentist

1. A routine dental examination is a must once every 6 months. Your doctor will help you keep your teeth and gums healthy
2. When you have a cavity. Food can accumulate in the tooth with a cavity and cause bad breath. So, visit your dentist and get it checked and treated.
3. When you have sore gums. Any kind of infection in your gums can create a space between the gums and the teeth and can be a reason for food lodgement, growth of bacteria and halitosis. So visit a dentist and get it treated.
4. When you have a dry mouth and you are not under any medication.

Visit a physician

1. When you have any medical problems or conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diabetes, respiratory tract infections, gastrointestinal issues, lung disease, renal disease, Sjögren’s syndrome etc.
2. When you are under any kind of medication
3. When your dentist has ruled out any possible reasons for dry mouth pertaining to oral cavity and salivary glands.

Mornings are the best time to visit a dentist or physician. Bad breath might be very unpleasant for your near and dear ones and should be taken seriously and treated.

Read: Bad Breath(Halitosis)