How to remove bad breath? Effective, time-tested methods

Publication date: 09/28/2020

"Culprits" of bad breath
What to do to eliminate unpleasant odor?
Express methods
Medicines
Herbal breath fresheners

Bad breath is always an obstacle to communication with others. Therefore, the problem should be urgently eradicated so that it does not become the cause of psychological disorder and the appearance of complexes in a person. But first you need to find out what became the source of bad breath. Indeed, in most cases, halitosis indicates that serious disruptions are occurring in the body.

"Culprits" of bad breath

The first and most common reason is poor oral hygiene. Unclean teeth and food stuck in them are an excellent environment for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.

In addition, the presence of dentures and various destructive processes in the oral cavity can cause an unpleasant odor:

periodontal disease;
caries;
pulpitis;
tartar, etc.

A common cause of bad breath is ENT diseases: laryngitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, nasal congestion, diseases of the trachea and lungs.

Another common accompaniment to the appearance of a nasty odor is dry mouth. Saliva is a useful mechanism provided by our body to cleanse the mouth of bacteria. With age, the salivary glands partially lose their functions, which leads to a reduction in saliva production. In this regard, the oral cavity is not cleaned sufficiently, and foci of inflammation appear. In addition, dry mouth can occur due to taking certain medications, as well as during prolonged conversation.

Bad breath appears due to disruption of the digestive system - gastritis, dysbacteriosis, gallbladder dyskinesia.

Causes of unpleasant odor during hunger

A particularly acutely repulsive odor (halitosis) is felt at a time when a person experiences a feeling of hunger. There are several reasons for this...

To begin with, from the list of possible causes of halitosis, one should not exclude the lack of basic hygiene procedures in the oral cavity, which allows pathogenic bacteria to freely multiply and function on the surface of the teeth and mucous membranes. Also, a large amount of bacteria accumulates on the tongue. The result of their vital activity is manifested in the stench emanating from the mouth, and will subsequently affect the health of the teeth and oral cavity.
Perhaps one of the main reasons for this symptom is an unbalanced diet , as a result of which the blood sugar level drops significantly. People who deliberately or unintentionally cut back on their diet do not consume the required amount of nutrients that are important for the normal functioning of the human body. Thus, a lack of carbohydrates can provoke an intensive breakdown of proteins and fats contained in foods consumed by a person. This reaction is compensatory in nature: the body tries to make up for the lack of energy in this way. As a result of this reaction, breakdown products of proteins and fats (ketones), which have a rather unpleasant odor, are released into the blood. This “aroma” vaguely resembles the smell of acetone and is eliminated from the body through the lungs and, naturally, through the oral cavity.
As a result of “meager” nutrition over a long period of time, vitamin deficiency may develop , one of the signs of which is a putrid or chemical “aroma” from the mouth. Associated symptoms of vitamin deficiency are swelling and bleeding of the gums.
Problems with teeth or mouth. Decayed teeth and caries cause an unpleasant odor, which is explained by the active development of harmful microorganisms in the oral cavity . In addition, the release of ketones can activate the carious process, which will lead to the appearance of a putrefactive “trail” from the mouth.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which can be aggravated by irregular eating , dieting or fasting. If there are such problems with the stomach, liver or pancreas, the digestion of even small amounts of food and the progress of its movement through the digestive tract are disrupted. As a result, rotting of food debris develops in the gastrointestinal tract, which does not “flavor” a person’s breath.
Eating onions or garlic as one of the ingredients in dietary salads or other dishes: as a result of digestion of such products, sulfur compounds are released, which have a putrid odor.
Do not forget that alcohol and nicotine provoke a foul “amber” from the mouth, which is especially noticeable on an empty stomach.

Express methods

There are many answers to the question of how to urgently remove bad breath. Here are the most effective express ways to get rid of bad breath.

Chewing lemon, lime. This method will not eliminate the stench forever, but it will get rid of it for a few hours. You need to chew a piece of lemon or lime along with the peel. It is also recommended to use citrus zest as an emergency medicine, which you can always carry with you in a fabric bag.
Coffee. Among coffee lovers, it is rare to find people with bad breath. Caffeine is known to kill unpleasant odors. If you can’t drink a cup of aromatic drink, it is recommended to gnaw 3-4 coffee beans (which you need to put in your pocket or purse in advance). This method will relieve the stench for 7-8 hours. It is not suitable for people suffering from periodic or constant increases in blood pressure. Hypertensive patients are better off chewing a few sprigs of dill or parsley. This method will not only freshen your breath for 8 hours, but also cleanse the oral cavity of bacteria.
A sprig of cloves helps with terrible odor in the mouth. All you need to do is chew it for a few seconds. Clove essential oil extracted from the plant will not only refresh the oral cavity, but also lift your spirits.
Juniper will help hide fumes well. It is recommended to chew the berries for several minutes. This method is capable of defeating even the strongest amber after active celebrations with the consumption of large quantities of alcoholic beverages.
Sour apples can also combat this problem. Fruits will get rid of plaque, bad breath and improve the functioning of the digestive system.
To get rid of the problem, it is recommended to chew pine nuts or roasted seeds for a few minutes. This will provide fresh breath for 1-2 hours and even get rid of the smell of garlic and onions.
If you consume half a teaspoon of propolis daily, this will help eliminate stench and accelerate the regeneration of the mucous membrane during the development of inflammatory processes.
A salt solution will also help get rid of the problem. To do this, you need to rinse your mouth with salty liquid (or sodium chloride 0.9%) for 2-3 minutes. It kills odor and destroys bacteria.
If you rinse your mouth with any vegetable oil in the morning, it will relieve bad breath for several hours.

It is also recommended to use wormwood for chewing. The plant eliminates bacteria, restores the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and eliminates bad breath. Magnolia has the same properties. All you need to do is chew the plant for 1 minute.

What will help solve the problem?

If you have gastritis, you need to seek help from a specialist.

If this problem is not related to the regime and the digestive process, but is a disease, treatment and prevention of diseases is needed under the supervision of a doctor.

With such diseases, it is very important to consult a doctor for help, since prolonging the disease can lead to more serious consequences. In such situations, diseases require long-term treatment.

It is also worth remembering that not all medications can be taken without consulting a doctor and a full examination. Most often, for gastritis, medications are prescribed that reduce acidity and help in the regeneration of the mucous membrane.

There may be cases when antibiotics and painkillers are needed, it all depends on the disease itself and the stage.

Medicines

How to remove bad breath using pharmaceutical products? It helps a lot, especially if you drank a large amount of alcohol the day before, the drug Atoxil, Polysorb. These drugs have an adsorbent effect, which consists in the rapid removal of alcoholic breakdown products from the body.

A solution of Chlorophyll, which contains a green pigment found in plants, will help in the fight against unpleasant odors. It has a deodorizing effect. In addition, regular use of the medicine helps to destroy microbes in the oral cavity, eliminate wounds and inflammatory processes in the gums.

Chlorophyll is also added to toothpastes and mouth rinses. The substance is found in spinach, broccoli, dill, etc. Therefore, these products must be included in the diet of a person with halitosis.

Hydrogen peroxide 3% eliminates stench for a long time and gets rid of pathogens. The rinsing procedure is carried out 2-3 times a day.

An effective disinfectant is Septagol. This is an antiseptic, which contains eucalyptus ester, mint, as well as thymol, menthol, benzalkonium chloride. The drug is able to destroy bacteria, relieve irritation from mucous membranes, and improve breathing.

The drug Asepta refreshes and eliminates microbes in infectious and inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity. It contains peppermint oil, methylparaben, carboxymethylcellulose, metronidazole and chlorhexidine.

Infresh lozenges are very popular for poor breathing. They contain extracts of mint, alfalfa, wheatgrass, as well as chlorophyll. Lollipops have a long-lasting effect.

In what cases should you be concerned about such a symptom?

In any case, it is logical to consult a physician, dentist or gastroenterologist when halitosis appears to rule out the presence of serious health problems. Having found out the true causes of the unpleasant “aroma”, together with the doctor it is necessary to determine further tactics of behavior.

If halitosis is associated only with dietary restrictions or fasting, then only successful “masking” of it will be a sufficient measure. Otherwise, you should immediately begin treatment of organs that are malfunctioning in the body.

Another important note: it is advisable to carry out any dietary restriction only under the “supervision” of a qualified specialist (nutritionist or doctor), otherwise it is possible that there will be many more health problems than the expected benefits.

also necessary to “enter” and “exit” the diet gradually : the body may experience severe stress, which will not have the best effect on its condition.

Bibliography

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Maksimova E.V., Stetsyuk N.S., Shelikhova E.O. Halitosis as a medical and social problem // Crimean Therapeutic Journal. — 2020. — No. 1. — P. 32-37
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Instructions for the medical use of the drug Metrogyl Denta® Dental gel // Registration number P N015982/01 // State Register of the Russian Federation. – URL: https://grls.rosminzdrav.ru/Grls_View_v2.aspx?routingGuid=9bc9a05c-d28b-473d-b8d4-60e8b8323762&t=

Modern aspects of the prevention of diseases of the oral mucosa in patients with xerostomia / L.D. Weisheim, L.M. Gavrikova, T.N. Gomenyuk, T.V. Motorkina, L.N. Shcherbakov, S.M. Dubacheva, G.V. Sorokoumova//Medicinal Bulletin.—2013.—No. 2 (50). -WITH. 32-37.

How to determine if you have halitosis

There are several ways to check your breath for freshness yourself:

Breathe into cupped palms and smell the exhaled air.
Use a cotton pad to wipe the surface of the tongue and assess whether there is a smell.
Lick a clean spoon or the back of your hand, let the saliva evaporate and smell the surface.

It is better to carry out such tests in the late afternoon, 2-3 hours after eating and, of course, before brushing your teeth. If you have halitosis, you will definitely feel it.