Bad Breath

This annoying complaint affects millions of people and has fueled a multi-million-dollar-a-year industry. Strict oral hygiene and natural remedies can provide relief. And if bad breath persists, careful dental or medical detective work often uncovers a correctable underlying cause.

What it is Whether it's called bad breath or halitosis, nobody wants an unpleasant odour emanating from his or her mouth. In the simplest cases, this problem can be traced back to smoking, drinking alcohol, or eating foods notorious for their lingering odours, including garlic, onions, and anchovies. But sometimes the problem is caused by an underlying medical condition and can become chronic.

What causes it  Bad breath usually results from the multiplication of odour-causing bacteria in the mouth. The drier your mouth, the more bacteria thrive. Any condition that reduces saliva production can contribute to bad breath - including advancing age, breathing through mouth, crash diet (the less food you chew, the less saliva you produce), certain medications, even the time of day. ("Morning breath' occurs because salivation is considerably reduced during sleep.) Bacteria may also collect on the tongue, in food debris that accumulates on dentures, and on the teeth - especially when plaque or cavities are present. If bad breath persists, underlying gum disease, a chronic sinus infection or poor digestion of foods if often the cause.

SYMPTOMS

• Regularly experiencing a disagreeable taste is a sign that the breath leaving your mouth probably had an unpleasant odour.
• Many people with bad breath don't taste or smell it themselves, so look of possible clues from others: do people step back when you speak, for instance. If you suspect a problem, ask someone you trust for an honest opinion.
• Bleeding gums signal gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums that can sometimes cause bad breath.

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR

• If bad breath does not improve with self-care, your dentist or doctor can check for an underlying medical cause, such as gum disease or a chronic sinus infection.
• Reminder: If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.

Supplement recommendations
SUPPLEMENT	DOSAGE	COMMENTS
Peppermint	1 or 2 drops essential oil of peppermint, placed on tongue.	Large ammounts of peppermint oil can cause heartburn. Drinking peppermint tea mat also be helpful.
Fennel	Chew a pinch of fennel seeds after meals or as needed.	Chew thoroughly for best effects. Anise seeds or clover can also be used.
Parsley	Chew on fresh parsley sprig after meals or as needed.	Some natural breath fresheners contain persley oil as a key ingredient.
Spiruline	Rinse the mouth with a "green" drink made with spirulina and apple juice. (Follow package instructions.)	The mixture can be drunk as well as used as a rinse. Or you can chew spirulina tablets.

How supplements can help  Natural strategies for combating bad breath work best in combination with regular and thorough oral hygiene, including flossing and brushing the teeth, as well as brushing the tongue (especially the back part), where odour-causing bacteria are likely to flourish.
Place just a drop or two of peppermint oil on the tongue a couple of times a day - larger amounts of the pure oil may cause digestive upset. Peppermint oil has a pleasant taste and aroma, and is also effective in killing bacteria. Drinking peppermint or spearmint teas, as well as plenty of plain water, may also help to fight bad breath by keeping the mouth moist.

Another approach is to chew on several fennel seeds, anise seeds, or cloves to freshen the breath; they can be carried in a small, sealed container. Fresh parsley has a similar effect; it's also high in chlorophyll (the chemical that gives plants their green color), which has long been recognized as a powerful breath freshener and also detoxifies odours caused by poorly digested foods. Chlorophyll is also found in "green" drinks containing spriulina, wheat grass, chlorella or other herbs. These are best swished around the mouth, then swallowed . Or try spirulina tablets, which should be chewed thoroughly.

What else you can do

• Brush your teeth after each meal and floss them at least once a day. When you can't brush, rinse your mouth out with some water.
• Use a moist toothbrush, a tongue scraper (available at some pharmacies and health-food stores) or a metal spoon held upside down to scrape off any coating on the back of the tongue and cleanse that area.
• Avoid strong-smelling foods and alcohol. Don't smoke.
• If a chronic sinus infection or postnasal drip is contributing to bad breath, consider using a sinus irrigator - a device found in some health-food stores that delivers a saltwater solution into the nostrils - to clean sinuses regularly.

Source - The Healing Power Of Vitamins Minerals and Herbs (Readers Digest)