Bad Breath

Article by Culbert Campbell

It’s not the kind of problem that will bring you sympathy. You won’t receive get-well cards or find bouquets of flowers on your desk. But you may come to work one day and find a package of breath mints on your desk – or notice that people are standing a little farther away then they used to.

Everyone has bad breath from time to time – because of the anchovies on your pizza. For example, or the extra chili you put on your lunch-time food. But when you have bad breath all the time, there may be more at work than today’s lunch.

Freshen up with fennel . When you eat at a restaurant in India, specially those serving Indian cuisine you’ve probably noticed a bowl of tiny seeds in a dish by the door. They’re fennel seeds, and are a traditional remedy for freshening the breath after eating. Fennel seeds have a delightful licorice (mulethi) flavor and an aroma that lingers, making them very effective for bad breath.

Most of the time, of course, bad breath is merely temporary. Here are a few ways to make your breath fresh again.

Have something sprightly . We don’t usually think of apples as being breath fresheners, but their crisp texture and slightly sweet taste make them a perfect choice for cleaning your mouth after a hearty meal. Other foods that act as a natural breath fresheners include parsley (prajmoda) and oranges. Oranges are particularly good because they contain citric acid, which stimulates the salivary glands. The extra saliva will help “rinse” your mouth and keep your breath clean.

Rinse after eating. Perhaps the easiest way to keep your breath clean is simply to rinse your mouth with water after eating. This will wash away food particles, which can lead to bad breath later in the day. While you’re at the fountain, be sure to swallow some of the water, as well. It will help dilute whatever is in your stomach, so strong odors will be less likely to drift upstream.

Take care of your teeth . Gum disease is a common cause of bad breath, and many of us may have it without being aware of it. Most gum diseases can be prevented with simple tooth care. When you don’t brush your teeth regularly, a sticky, bacteria-laden film forms on the surfaces of the teeth. Over time this can damage the enamel on the teeth and also lead to gum infections.

Doctors recommended brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily. Don’t forget to brush your tongue too, because it’s a natural haven for bacteria as well as small particles of food. In addition, you may want to rinse your mouth with mouthwash containing zinc, which will help neutralize mouth odors.

Try the sizzle of baking soda . Before all those minty mouthwashes and toothpastes came along, people often brushed their teeth with a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Doctors have since found that regular brushing with this mixture changes acid levels in your mouth, making it less hospitable to odor-causing bacteria.

Watch what you eat . No matter how much they please your taste buds, you’re courting bad breath whey you eat strong-flavored or spicy foods. The worst offenders include garlic, onions, salami, tuna, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. When you’re trying to protect your breath, you may want to avoid fatty foods, as well, because they can create a strong odor during digestion.

In bygone days, as a result of bad teeth, disease, unhealthy food and none of the accoutrements of oral hygiene, a very great percentage of the population suffered from bad breath (halitosis0 and attempted to counteract the problem with a variety of breath fresheners ranging from sweet pellets of cloves and myrrh to cachous of rose and violet. The latter of course created a sickly odor which did nothing to remove the underlying causes of which halitosis is the result.

Eating strongly flavored foods such as garlic, onion, cheese and beer leaves an immediate smell on the breath which is reasonably transitory but bad breath caused by smoking, catarrh, sinus infection, tooth decay, tonsillitis, constipation and stomach disorders requires a cleansing and a clearing to get the body working properly. As any Victorian nanny would unequivocally have stated, ‘clean breath and a clear mind are the signs of a healthy body’.

Instant Answers

If the problem is digestive or a temporarily upset stomach then ½ teaspoon of kaolin powder or a few drops of essential oil of peppermint in a glass of warm water will soothe and improve matters.

If the cause of halitosis is a sore throat either honey and lemon or a few drops of oil of cloves in hot water, to first gargle with and then swallow, will kill bacteria.

Any of the following chewed well will disguise the smell of recently eaten foods: parsley, mint, cardamom, cloves, aniseed, juniper berries, an apple , coffee beans, fennel seeds. All of these can also have the long-term effect of improving tummy upsets.

Breath Freshener

150ml (1/4 pint) sherry15g (1/2oz) each ground cinnamon andcaraway

Seal tightly together in a bottle and shake frequently for one seek. This tincture should be taken, a few drops at a time, on a suger lump or in hot water to sweeten the most dire morning-after breath.

Mouthwashes – Home remedies for Bad Breath

* Hydrogen peroxide One teaspoon added to a glass of warm water, with or without 1 teaspoon of sea salt, is a very cleansing gargle and mouthwash. Avoid swallowing. Good home remedy for bad breath.* Bicarbonate of soda and sea salt One teaspoon of each in a glass of warm water makes an effective mouthwash.

* Cider vinegar, tincture of myrrh and oil of cloves A quarter of a cup of cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of clear honey and 3 drops each of tincture of myrrh and oil of cloves., diluted with a little hot water, makes an antiseptic mouthwash and gargle which can be safely swallowed. One of the best home remedies for bad breath.* Eucalyptus oil, oil of cloves and tincture of myrrh Six drops of oil of eucalyptus and 2 drops each oil of cloves and tincture of myrrh shaken together with 600ml (1 pint) of hot water then bottled and kept handy in the bathroom is very refreshing first thing in the morning.* Lavender, marjoram, summer savory, thyme and rosemary Separately or combined in a vinegar or infusion these antiseptic and sweet-smelling herbs are safe and pleasant to use.

Long-Term Solutions

Do not drink water with meals as this upsets the gastric juices.

Exercise, fresh air and deep breathing stimulate a good supply of oxygen to the system.

Visit the dentist regularly.

Examine yourself for stress problems or a poor digestive reaction to certain foods.

* Syrup of figs One teaspoon in hot water each night until the breath is sweet has much the same effect as sweet liquorice water from the Middle East.

* Lemon pips An old-fashioned remedy to kill warms (which cause notoriously bad breath) in small children was to simmer these in honey and spoon down the gooey mixture whilst still warm.

* Quince seeds Simmer the seeds in water until soft. Strain, gargle with and swallow the liquid.