Natural treatment for halitosis and bad breath

Halitosis is particularly common if you drink too little, have difficulty digesting or are taking medication. “Halitosis” is the scientific term for bad breath, or the emission of unpleasant odours through the breathunpleasant odours whether oral or nasal in origin. However, the notion of “unpleasant odour” varies according to culture, time and individual sensitivities. In our society, this disorder is considered a handicap that can hinder the development of harmonious social relationships.

Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, can be a source of embarrassment for many people. It is characterised by an unpleasant breath and can be caused by a variety of factors. However, there are natural ways to treat halitosis and regain fresh, pleasant breath.

How does halitosis develop?

Halitosis is most often caused by the fermentation of food particles by Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria in the mouth. This produces volatile sulphur compounds such as hydrogen sulphide and methyl mercaptan. The bacteria involved may be present in areas of periodontal disease, particularly where ulceration or necrosis is present. The microorganisms responsible reside in the deep periodontal pockets around the teeth. If the periodontal tissue is healthy, these bacteria can proliferate on the back of the tongue.

What factors contribute to halitosis?

Factors contributing to the overgrowth of the bacteria responsible include reduced salivary flow(parotid pathology, Sjögren’s syndrome, anticholinergic agents), salivary stagnation and increased salivary pH.

After digestion, certain foods or spices release their odour into the lungs; the smell exhaled can be unpleasant for those around you. For example, the smell of garlic can be detected in the breath 2 or 3 hours after consumption, long after the garlic has disappeared from the oral cavity.

What causes halitosis?

Some of the main causes of halitosis include poor oral hygiene, inadequate diet and the presence of underlying medical conditions.

The most common causes are

Gum disease or periodontal disease
Smoking
Ingested food containing a volatile compound

Gastrointestinal disorders rarely cause halitosis because the oesophagus is normally closed. It is wrong to think that breath odours reflect the state of digestion and intestinal function.

Other abnormal breath odours:

Several general diseases are responsible for the production of volatile substances detectable in breath, although they do not cause the particularly foul, unpleasant odours of halitosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis produces a sweet or fruity acetone odour; liver failure produces a faint sulphurous odour; and kidney failure produces a urine or ammonia odour.

Non-oral pathologies identified as factors inducing halitosis include ear, nose and throat (ENT) pathologies, infections of the gastrointestinal tract and the upper and lower respiratory tracts, and certain metabolic, psychological or iatrogenic diseases. The main gastrointestinal pathologies are gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, Zenker’s diverticulum, achalasia, oesophageal cancer,peptic ulcer disease, pyloric stenosis and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) gastric infection.

Naturopathic advice for halitosis

If you have bad breath, adopt impeccable oral hygiene: brush your teeth at least twice a day, use dental floss or interdental brushes at least once a day. Brush your tongue every day, or even twice a day, from back to front, using a soft brush soaked in a chlorhexidine mouthwash. Encourage salivation by sucking sugar-free min ts or chewing sugar-free chewing gum. Drink at least a litre and a half of water a day.

Other dietary hygiene measures may also be helpful in the event of bad breath:

If you wear removable braces, take them off after every meal and brush them with a toothbrush reserved for this purpose.
Eat regularly: chewing and swallowing clean the mouth, stimulate salivation and prevent unpleasant odours and ketosis.
Eat a balanced diet, reducing the foods that can cause bad breath.
Rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash can be useful, preferably alcohol-free as this dries out the mucous membranes. The use of mouthwash should not be prolonged without the advice of your dentist. Good oral hygiene also means fresh breath.
If you tend to have bad breath, be wary of foods such as garlic or onions, as well as alcohol.

A large number of parapharmaceutical products are recommended for bad breath. These include mouthwashes, toothpastes, lozenges and mouth sprays. They often contain plant extracts to neutralise malodorous sulphur compounds or freshen breath.

Which medicinal plants should be used to combat bad breath?

There are many therapeutic solutions, most of them curative, but they all depend on the cause.

Certain plants are reputed to neutralise the sulphur compounds responsible for bad breath: parsley, mint, basil, coriander and green anise, for example. Chewing the leaves or seeds of these plants can restore fresh breath. Indian restaurants systematically offer a mixture of these seeds at the end of the meal.

Bananas and kiwi fruit are also said to help combat breath problems.

Ailanthe:

Homeopathic indications: severe angina, malignant infections, cyanotic mucous membranes, foul breath.

Marsh ache essential oil:

Celery essential oil is particularly recommended in cases of foul breath, minor liver failure and flatulence.

Essence of lemon zest :

Lemon is recommended for digestive, liver and pancreatic problems, as well as bad breath.

Treat halitosis (bad breath) naturally

How does halitosis develop?

What factors contribute to halitosis?