Bad breath ?

In most cases, finding the cause of the bad breath is the first step toward treating this preventable condition.

Bad breath also known as halitosis can be caused by poor dental health or gut health, acidity, diabetes, lung infection, or even less water intake. Not brushing teeth regularly could lead to bacterial growth in the mouth causing bad breath. Smoking or chewing tobacco is also known to cause bad breath. Bad breath could also be a sign of periodontal or gum diseases and one must visit their dentist to know the exact cause.

Practicing good oral hygiene, drinking an adequate amount of water, eating more fruits and vegetables, and avoiding sugary foods and tobacco-based products could help in many cases.

According to Ayurveda, there could be many causes behind bad breath from poor oral hygiene, less water intake, frequent eating, poor gut health, chronic constipation, hyperacidity, and breathing through the mouth while sleeping among others.

While the best treatment is to find the cause and avoid it here are 5 tips that can help you prevent halitosis.

1. Eating fennel seeds post meals

Fennel seeds are digestive in nature and consist of flavonoids. This helps stimulate the flow of saliva and hence get rid of dry mouth. Fennel seeds have an aromatic flavor which helps combat the bad breath which often accompanies a dry mouth.

2. Brushing twice a day (in the morning and evening)

Brushing and tongue scraping in the morning help you eradicate all the toxins accumulated in the mouth overnight. If you brush and tongue scrap even at night, it ensures optimum oral health as you sleep with a clean mouth which is most important for your gut health.

3. Rinsing mouth (kavala) post meal

Ayurveda doesn't recommend drinking water right after meals as it can slow down your metabolism. But water is a must for cleaning of mouth especially after meals. So just gargling (filling your mouth with some water and swishing it for 2-3 minutes which is known as kavala in ayurveda) can be done. It ensures no food particles are left or stuck in the mouth.

4. Gap your meals properly (no frequent snacking)

5. Drinking Enough water

Yes, drinking water is mandatory for every function of your body especially oral health.

Symptoms

Bad breath odors vary, depending on the source or the underlying cause. Some people worry too much about their breath even though they have little or no mouth odor, while others have bad breath and don't know it. Because it's difficult to assess how your own breath smells, ask a close friend or relative to confirm your bad-breath questions.

When to see a doctor

If you have bad breath, review your oral hygiene habits. Try making lifestyle changes, such as brushing your teeth and tongue after eating, using dental floss, and drinking plenty of water.

If your bad breath persists after making such changes, see your dentist. If your dentist suspects a more serious condition is causing your bad breath, he or she may refer you to a physician to find the cause of the odor.

Some General Tips:

Do not smoke

Do not rinse your mouth with water straight after brushing your teeth

Do not have lots of sugary foods and drinks

Do not brush so hard your gums or tongue bleed

Natural remedies for bad breath

1. Include more probiotics in your diet. Eating curds and yogurts at the end of your meal can help cleanse your mouth. This will also help you stock up on calcium as well as help cool your body. If you have conditions such indigestion or irritable bowel syndrome, gases form in the stomach. These exit through the mouth, leading to bad odor. Curd helps flush out toxins and also helps digest your food better.

2. Drink plenty of water: Funny how that simple fluid is such a panacea of sorts! Water helps flush out toxins from the mouth. When food substances linger in the mouth, they decay and cause the build-up of sulfur-producing bacteria. They tend to deposit at the posterior of the tongue causing a foul smell in the mouth. Water helps push food particles down the food tract.

3. Eat saliva-producing food: An apple a day keeps the bad breath at bay! Fruits like apples and pears and vegetables like celery help produce saliva, keeping the mouth moisturized. Saliva kills the bacteria that is causing the stink in your mouth. It also keeps your mouth from drying up, a major cause of bad breath.