MOUTH – Bad breath
In this modern civilised world, everyone gives importance to cleanliness,
perfection and fragrance in everything. Bad or offensive breath i.e., Halitosis
– in medical terminology – hinders this trend. Halitosis is a social and
cosmetic related sensitive problem which makes persons avoid close relationship
and gatherings. It is often noted when others turn when we speak or when
they complain, and not by self-identification, since we get used to persistent
odours.
Usually, smell can reflect the quality of the substance. You can notice the
fragrance of flowers, smell ripe fruits, but they later turn to putrid smell when
they decompose. These are all due to bacterial or fungal or yeast action on the
flowers and fruits.
Likewise, everyone has his/her own individual odour due to their normal
secretions. People are smellier mostly due to abnormal secretions or ulcer or
necrosis or decompositions or decayed foods in the holes of the teeth,
infection in sinuses or tonsils, etc. Usually, moist places act as bacterial or
fungal or yeast harbours. So the mouth ranks first due to its moisture. For
halitosis, people initially feel shy to consult a dentist and later go on
consulting a dentist, an ENT surgeon, lung specialist, gastroenterologist, skin
specialist and so on to rule out or get rid of the complaint.
Pathology
Usually, our body secretions give
protection by forming a slimy covering. It protects us from acidic things,
bacterial invasion, abrasions, etc. Saliva is also one of the protective
secretions, which is absolutely necessary to neutralise the food, to clean the
mouth and to remove particles that may cause odour. The odour occurs due to the
action of bacteria and chemical changes that take place in our body due to
composition differences or decompositions. Normally, the odours differ in
intensity according to the site and type of infection and substances which get putrefied.
The anaerobic bacteria digest the food particles, producing sulphur
compounds which give the offensiveness. Sulphur compounds are nutrients which
help our body metabolism. These are present in all fruits, vegetables, etc.
Cabbage has its peculiar odour from its presence of sulphur compounds. Usually
these offensive sulphur compounds get absorbed during digestion and enter the
bloodstream. Blood, while getting oxygenation in the lung, expels or spreads
this smell during exhalation. Likewise, blood spreads the same through sweat
and urine.
Causes
This may be due to a generalised reason or due to a local pathology. Most
of the time, offensive breath originates from the mouth, due to the action of
anaerobic bacteria. But it may also be from sinuses, nose, lungs, stomach,
liver and blood circulation.
Generalised causes are
Physiological or normal
·
Starvation – due to mobilisation and metabolism of
proteins, on exhaustion of glucose
·
Strenuous exercises – ketone breath due to protein
metabolism (after protein rich diet) likewise, exertional dysnoea induced by
stress may also cause dry mouth and bad breath
·
Less intake of water – causes mouth dryness and makes
breath offensive
·
Aromatic foods or spicy foods
·
Pathological or abnormal
·
Diabetic coma – acetone breath due to keto-acidosis
·
Renal failure – ureamic breath due to acidosis
·
Liver failure or in severe jaundice – fetor hepaticus
·
Medicines that cause dryness of mouth and thus lead to
bad breath (antihistamines and decongestants)
Habits of smoking, chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol can affect teeth,
gums, throat, oesophagus and cause offensive breath
Local pathology is mainly due to bacteria or virus or fungus i.e.
from mouth or nose or lungs or any other local manifestation.
Mouth
Dryness of the mouth is one of the major causes
for the offensive odour, since during drying, the bacteria get concentrated and
there will be lack of oxygen and decomposition of particles. Decreased
secretion or decreased flow or stagnation of saliva will also result in odour
due to concentrated bacteria and its increased activity. Physiologically,
halitosis is often found in the morning, after sleeping, long speech, vigorous
exercises and starvation. Pathologically, it is often found in the case of
nasal obstruction due to polyps or infection or foreign body or salivary gland
problems. It can also occur in breath due to diabetes, hypertension, liver
failure and renal failure. The causes are
·
Dental – decays, plaques, erosions, pockets or holes
where foods can get lodged
·
Gums – inflamed swollen gums, bleeding gums, abscesses,
unfit dentures, sticking of foods, ulcers due to dentures, poor hygienic
measures in cleaning, etc.
·
Tongue – due to coating or mapping or ulcers, stomatitis
and lack of cleanliness
·
Tonsils – infection of tonsil or peritonsillar abscess
(Quinsy)
Nose – Sinusitis or post-nasal drip or
allergy, stagnation and thick mucous, nose block
Stomach – usually protein rich food contains
enormous sulphur compounds and causes halitosis for ex – garlic, onion, grains,
milk, cheese, ice creams, etc. Indigestion also accounts for bad breath which
is mostly due to belching and not because of breath or will not persist for a
prolonged time. Smells are mostly due to formation of hydrogen sulfide and methyl
mercaptans which give odour of rotten eggs and faeces respectively.
Lungs – pneumonia or any deep-seated infection
can cause fetid breath for ex-pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, carcinomas, etc.
Metabolic dysfunctions can also result in bad breath.
Precautions
Hormone changes can also cause offensive breath.
Effect
·
It can reflect in social behaviours, love and sex.
·
Repeated sinus and nasal infections with halitosis can
reflect in anosmia (loss of smell of sense or differentiation)
Caution – Everyone should be more careful when there is systemic suffering
like diabetes, liver disorders, kidney ailments or metabolic disorders, since increased
offensive breath indicates severity of the condition.
Do
·
Proper cleaning or brushing of the teeth in the morning
and at bedtime
·
Clear saliva and nasal secretion often and avoid
accumulations
·
Hawk to clear the throat often, if there is throat infection
or secretions
·
Dental check-ups for filling pockets or erosions if any,
or to rule out any other dental or gum problem
·
Clean the tongue properly with tongue scraper if there is
coating
·
Drink plenty of water or drinks to maintain good body
hydration. Also take plenty of water after every meal to wash away the presence
of food particles in the mouth or throat or oesophagus
·
Clean dentures (if any) properly with antiseptic
solutions
Avoid
·
Stimulants such as alcohol, cigarettes and chewing
tobacco
·
Dairy products
·
Onions and garlic
Sweets or chocolates Diagnosis of the complaint should be
done in different ways to attain complete analysis for getting complete cure.
The tests often required may be
·
Endoscopy for the sinuses
·
CT scan to rule out nasal obstruction, lung disorders,
etc.
·
Blood investigations to rule out diabetes, infection,
allergies, metabolic disorders
·
Urine investigations to rule out diabetes, ketone bodies
and metabolic disorders
Treatment – For temporary relief, anyone can use
·
Cleanser, paste, mouthwash, mouth freshener or deodorant,
gargles, tongue cleaner or wiper, etc.
·
Chewing gum which influences secretion of saliva
·
Cloves, cardamom, camphor, nutmeg, green pudhina leaves
or guava leaves or betel leaves for masking the foul odour
Sometimes even doctors do give the same advice, but mouthwashes and
deodorants are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad
breath. Antibacterial and antiseptic preparations act for some more time than
maskers like deodorants or chewing gums. Antibiotic treatment also will work
for the time being only.
Homeopathic approach to halitosis
Everyone can notice that use of mouth freshener works only for the time being.
Removing the actual cause or disease can only help in the long run. Treatment
will be successful only when we find and remove the actual cause and treat the
condition i.e. treat infection, sinusitis, lung infection, post-nasal drip,
chronic bronchitis, etc.
Regarding treatment of halitosis in Homeopathy, there are different types
of odours which mimic fermented beer, brandy, cabbage, cheese, chicken dung,
putrid, fish brine, garlic, sulphur, tobaccos, cadaver, earth, rotten eggs,
sour taste, sole leather, garlic, metallic, musty, onions, etc., i.e., odour
differs from person to person depending upon the bacteria. Likewise,
prescription also differs in Homeopathy from person to person. So, each patient
is treated separately i.e., individually.
Homeopathic medicines can act as mouth wash, can remove the disease
completely, and can act neurologically and stimulate the body for quality
normal secretions. Treatment should be given for the complaints like recurrent
cold, sinusitis, dental problems, gingivitis, stomatitis, indigestion, etc.
Evidence shows that the messenger for wellness – Homeopathy – has gained in
importance in the tide of health fortunes and has made the world turn towards
it with its fragrance of cure.
Homeopathic medicines commonly used in the case of offensive breath are –
Asafoetida, Baptisia, Baryta mur, Benzoic acid, Bromium, Calc carb, carbolic
acid, Carbo animalis, Carbo veg, Crot – hor, Graphites, Hepa sulf, Kali sulp,
Merc sol, Nat sulp, Nit acid, Opium, Plantago, Psorinum, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox,
Sepia, Silicea, Staphysagria, Sulphur, Tarentula, Tellurium, Thuja,
Tuberculinum, etc. These Medicines should be taken under the advice and
diagnosis of a qualified Homeopath.
for
new hope
Dr. S. Chidambaranathan, BHMS, MD (Homeo)
Laxmi Homeo Clinic
24 E. New Mahalipatti Road
Madurai, TN 625 001
India
Tel: +91-984-319-1011 (Mob /
Whatsapp)
E-mail: drcheena@gmail.com
(Disclaimer: The
contents of this column are for informational purpose only. The content is not
intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. Always seek the advice of healthcare professional for any health
problem or medical condition.)