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Causes of bad breath. How to get rid of terrible breath? Treatment for stomach diseases

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Bad breath, or halitosis as it is called in medical parlance, can cause a host of problems in everyday life.

And if a person is looking for an answer to the question of how to permanently get rid of bad breath at home, it means that the problem has been bothering him for quite a long time.

Obsessive halitosis occurs due to various factors, but about 70-80% of all causes are hidden in improper oral hygiene and associated diseases - caries, pulpitis, stomatitis, periodontal disease.

Other causes of chronic oral disease may include developing and acute forms of organ diseases:

If you suspect any disease, you should consult a doctor. Without eliminating the cause unpleasant odor from the mouth in adults, treatment with folk remedies and other methods at home will not be effective.

It is necessary to use drugs from a pharmacy to treat bad breath as prescribed by a doctor in combination with therapy for the disease that caused the pathology:

There are several ways that will show you how to quickly get rid of the smell of garlic from your mouth. They will also help to eliminate the onion aroma:

To prevent unpleasant odor caused by reasons other than pathology internal organs, you need to monitor the health of your teeth and brush them 2-3 times a day.

Using dental floss or an irrigator will improve your dental hygiene. It is also important to clean your tongue with the outside of the brush - a lot of harmful substances accumulate on it!

Bad breath is not only a barrier to communication and a cause of self-doubt, but can also signal a serious pathology. We turned to a therapist to find out about the causes and ways to deal with an uncomfortable problem.

Ardeeva Irina Mikhailovna,
therapist of the highest qualification category,
Medical Center "Horizon"

Almost every person experiences halitosis - that's what bad breath is called - sooner or later. The question is whether this is temporary or whether the problem is permanent. Sometimes the person himself may not notice the unpleasant odor. There are the following self-diagnosis methods:

Take a cotton pad or napkin and place it on the back third of your tongue, then take it out and smell it.
Smell the floss or toothpick a minute after use.
Exhale into your palm and smell.
Put a gauze bandage on your face and walk around in it for about 5 minutes. The odor accumulated on the bandage corresponds to the smell of your mouth.
You can use a special pocket device that determines the concentration of hydrogen sulfide during breathing - a halimeter, with a scale from 0 to 4 points.

The causes of temporary occurrence of bad breath may be::

Long-term use of some medicines- hormonal, antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics, antibacterials, which reduce saliva production and lead to halitosis.
Breathing through the mouth during intense breathing: dry mouth appears, and consequently halitosis occurs.
Stress and prolonged nervous overload negatively affect the entire body. This may include dry mouth.

In 80% of cases, the cause of halitosis is diseases of the oral cavity: carious teeth, periodontitis, gingivitis, stomatitis of various etiologies, diseases of the salivary glands of the tongue, etc.

Therefore, before you run to the doctor, answer yourself the question: do you pay enough attention to oral hygiene? It includes:

thorough brushing of teeth, dental spaces using dental floss, cheeks, using special brushes or a scraper, 2 times a day,
rinsing your mouth with warm water after every meal or snack,
use of rinses (not antibacterial),
Carrying out professional cleaning of the oral cavity by a dentist 2 times a year.

If you pay due attention to the prevention of oral diseases, but the smell is still present, you should contact dentist and undergo appropriate treatment.

If treatment by a dentist is ineffective, the next specialist should be ENT doctor. The cause of the unpleasant odor may be chronic tonsillitis. Enlarged, loose palatine tonsils with wide lacunae, in which tiny food particles and dying epithelial cells accumulate, are a suitable place for numerous bacteria. If chronic tonsillitis is detected, it will be necessary to undergo a course of conservative treatment: washing the lacunae of the tonsils with antiseptic solutions, physiotherapeutic procedures. Also, chronic rhinitis and sinusitis are often accompanied by the formation of thick, foul-smelling mucus, which, when it enters the nasopharynx and then the pharynx, can cause bad breath.

If the otorhinolaryngologist has not identified any pathology, then you need to undergo an examination with therapist or gastroenterologist, since halitosis can also be caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, kidneys, and metabolic problems (diabetes mellitus).

A preliminary “problem” place in the body can be identified by the nature of the smell .

Sour breath can occur with ulcers of the stomach, duodenum, with gastritis with increased acid-forming function, with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Halitosis also occurs with cholecystitis, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, intestinal dysbiosis, and diseases of the esophagus.
If there is a smell reminiscent of rotten meat or eggs, you need to undergo an examination to rule out decompensated cirrhosis of the liver with the presence of liver failure.
Putrid odor from the mouth can also occur in some lung diseases, accompanied by the release of purulent sputum.
Sweetish smell ripe apples or the smell of acetone may be a sign of decompensated diabetes mellitus; emergency assistance required.
If the smell of your breath resembles the smell of urine, emergency medical attention is also required, since there is a high probability of kidney failure.

From all of the above, it becomes clear that if you have halitosis, you need to consult a doctor to diagnose the disease and treat it.

Recommendations for reducing discomfort and discomfort during halitosis

You can urgently get rid of bad breath by chewing coffee beans: they neutralize it.
You can use rinses, toothpastes, gels containing carbamide peroxide, triclosan, cetylpyridine.
It helps with halitosis by rinsing the mouth with diluted hydrogen peroxide (1 tsp per 1 glass of water) or soda solution (4-5 times a day).
A good effect is achieved by daily rinsing the mouth with infusions of herbs: chamomile, mint, alfalfa, dill, yarrow, and propolis.
The intensity of the smell is reduced by the use of essential oils (sage, tea tree, cloves).

But it is better not to deal with the consequences of the problem, but to deal with the problem itself. Don’t complicate your life and don’t trigger the disease - go to the doctor.

The problem of bad breath is quite common and reaches 80-90% of the adult population, but only in 25% of cases bad breath is persistent and its cause is the presence of a chronic pathological process in the human body. Bad breath is usually caused by diseases of the digestive organs (stomach, liver, intestines, teeth and oral cavity). In most cases, it occurs due to the accumulation in a person’s mouth - on the tongue, around the teeth and between the teeth - of a large number of anaerobic bacteria.

This condition is also known as “halitosis” or “halitosis”, “ozostomia”, “stomatodysody”. The problem of bad breath is by no means insoluble. Methods for its treatment are usually very simple and effective - you just need to correctly recognize the main cause of the unpleasant odor.

Do you have bad breath?

Of course, under certain circumstances, each of us may experience bad breath, and we ourselves can often find out about this only by the reactions of the people around us. Determining whether you have bad breath can often be difficult, primarily because the mouth, the source of all these odors, is connected to the nose through an opening at the back of the mouth, in the area of the soft palate. And since the nose “filters” odors that arise in the back of the mouth, it thus filters out this most unpleasant odor. That is, it is quite possible that you have this bad breath - but you yourself don’t know about it.

Even if ours own noses can't help us determine with certainty what our breath smells like - can we still find out? One way is to get an opinion on this matter from one of your closest relatives. You can also make the same request to a close friend, or to your dentist during your next visit to him. If this question seems too personal to you and you are afraid to “entrust” it to adults, do not be embarrassed and ask your children about it. As we well know, it is through their mouths that the truth often speaks.

Is it possible to independently determine what your breath smells like?

Such methods are also known. For example, lick your wrist, let the saliva dry for about five seconds, and then smell the area. So how? That's pretty much what you smell like. Or, to be precise, this is what the front of your tongue smells like.

Now try to figure out what the back of your tongue smells like. Take a spoon, turn it over, and scrape the farthest part of your tongue with it. (Don't be surprised if you start choking when you do this.) Look at the substance left on the spoon that you scraped off your tongue - it is usually thick and whitish. Now smell it. This is the smell of your breath (as opposed to the smell of the front of the tongue) that others are likely to smell.

The main cause of unpleasant odor

Now you know that in most cases, the source of bad breath is the white substance that covers the back of the tongue. Or, to be more precise, the bacteria that live in this white substance.

There is another, also very common cause of unpleasant odor - bacteria that accumulate in other areas of the mouth.

What conditions or circumstances can cause or increase an unpleasant odor? Many of these factors are somehow related to:

Oral bacteria.
- Conditions that stimulate the growth of these bacteria.
- Poor cleaning of areas where bacteria accumulate.

Can food cause an unpleasant odor?

Some foods have a long-standing reputation for causing unpleasant odors, such as onions or garlic. When food is digested, the molecules that make it up are absorbed by our body and then removed from it through the bloodstream.

Some of these molecules, which have very characteristic and unpleasant odors, enter our lungs along with the bloodstream. They are removed from the lungs when you exhale - hence the unpleasant odor. Although this kind of unpleasant odor is a rather annoying problem, we will not discuss it in detail on these pages. The unpleasant odor caused by the consumption of certain foods usually disappears on its own after a day or two - as soon as the body eliminates all the “bad-smelling” molecules. And getting rid of such a smell is quite simple - you just need to exclude such foods from your diet or reduce their consumption to a minimum.

Does smoking cause bad odor?

You've probably met people who smoke heavily and whose breath has a specific smell. Although many factors influence the formation of the unpleasant odor associated with smoking, the main ones are nicotine, tar and other foul-smelling substances contained in tobacco smoke. These substances accumulate on the teeth and soft tissues of a smoker's mouth - gums, cheek tissue, tongue. And let's make a reservation again - we will not discuss this type of unpleasant odor in detail on these pages either. The only way to completely get rid of this odor is to quit smoking (although if you improve your oral hygiene, this odor can be reduced somewhat). Note also that smoking itself dehydrates the tissues of the mouth. This weakens the moisturizing and disinfecting effect of saliva, which washes away bacteria and their waste products. Dry mouth is discussed in more detail below. It is known that people who smoke are more likely to experience problems associated with periodontal disease (“gum disease”).

Periodontal diseases also occur due to bacterial activity. Gum disease and its connection to bad odor is discussed in more detail below.

Does xerostomia (dry mouth) contribute to bad breath?

Even if you don’t have any particular problems with unpleasant odor, you’ve probably noticed that in the morning when you just woke up, your breath is much less fresh. This happens because our mouth “dries out” at night - because during sleep our body produces saliva in the mouth. The result of this drying out is “morning breath”. A similar “drying effect” is often noticed by, for example, teachers or lawyers who have to talk for several hours - this also causes their mouths to dry out. Some people suffer from chronic dry mouth, a condition called xerostomia. It is even more difficult for them to solve problems with fresh breath. Moisture in our mouths helps cleanse. We constantly swallow saliva - and with each swallow, millions of bacteria are washed out of our mouth, as well as the food particles that these bacteria feed on. In addition, saliva dissolves and washes away the waste products of bacteria living in the mouth.

Saliva is a special form of liquid that moisturizes the mouth, a kind of natural cleanser for the mouth. Any moisture can have a cleansing and dissolving effect; saliva, in addition, contains special components that kill bacteria and neutralize their metabolic products. When your mouth dries out, the beneficial effects of saliva are greatly reduced. Neutralization of bacteria slows down and conditions for their growth improve.

Chronic dry mouth - xerostomia - can also be a side effect of taking certain medications. Xerostomia can be caused by antihistamines (allergy and cold medications), antidepressants, medications that regulate blood pressure, diuretics, tranquilizers, and narcotics. Dry mouth can get worse as you age. Over time, our salivary glands stop working with the same efficiency, and the composition of saliva changes. This leads to the fact that the cleansing properties of saliva weaken. People who suffer from xerostomia for a long time are more likely to develop periodontal disease (gum disease). Gum disease can also cause bad breath.

Can periodontal disease cause bad odor?

Periodontal disease, commonly referred to simply as “gum disease,” can also cause bad breath. Ask any dentist - the smell of gum disease is very specific, and an experienced doctor can determine the presence of such a disease even before examining the patient.

Oral diseases are the second most common cause of bad breath (the first, as you remember, is the accumulation of bacteria).

More often they occur in people over 35 years of age - that is, the older a person is, the more likely it is that problems with fresh breath are caused by the condition of his gums. Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the soft tissues surrounding the teeth. If such a disease is neglected, it can lead to serious damage to the bone into which our teeth are “inserted.” Often, as this disease progresses, gaps (dentists call them “periodontal pockets”) form between the teeth and gums, where large amounts of bacteria accumulate. These pockets can be so deep that they are difficult to clean properly; bacteria and their metabolic products that accumulate in them also cause an unpleasant odor.

Can a respiratory disease cause an unpleasant odor?

Of course it can. Upper respiratory tract diseases, allergies - all these diseases lead to the fact that mucous secretions begin to flow from the nasal cavity into the oral cavity, through the opening in the soft palate. The accumulation of these secretions in the mouth can also cause an unpleasant odor.

People with sinus disease often have a stuffy nose, forcing them to breathe through their mouth. Breathing through the mouth causes it to dry out, which, as we already know, also causes an unpleasant odor. For sinus disease, antihistamines (anti-allergic) medications are often taken, which also contribute to dry mouth.

What dental diseases can cause an unpleasant odor?

In most cases, the occurrence of unpleasant odor in the mouth is associated with various diseases of the oral cavity itself. Any active infection in the mouth, such as an abscessed tooth or partially erupted wisdom tooth, can cause a foul odor. Extensive, untreated cavities on teeth can accumulate large amounts of bacteria and food debris, which also cause an unpleasant odor. If you have such diseases, during your examination your dentist will definitely identify them and offer effective treatment methods.

Can other untreated diseases cause bad odor?

Some diseases of the internal organs can also cause an unpleasant odor. If the patient has tried all the usual methods for eliminating an unpleasant odor in such cases, but they have led nowhere, then a visit to a therapist will not hurt. Your doctor, of course, knows which diseases are most likely in your case; but, for general information, bad breath can occur due to diseases of the respiratory tract, liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal diseases.

Can dentures cause bad odor?

Dentures (full, partial, removable, etc.) can have a significant impact on the freshness of your breath. If you wear any dentures, there is a simple test you can do to see if your dentures are causing bad odor:

Remove your dentures and place them in a closed container, such as a plastic lunch box. Close it tightly and leave it like that for five minutes. Then open it sharply and immediately smell it. This is roughly what the people you talk to smell like from your mouth.

Although most cases of bad breath are caused by the buildup of bacteria on the tongue, on or around the teeth (periodontal disease), bacteria can also accumulate on the surface of dentures and cause bad breath.

What is actually the main cause of unpleasant odor?

In most cases, the occurrence of bad breath is associated with the condition of the oral cavity. Namely, an unpleasant odor is usually caused by bacteria living in it. Bacteria, like humans, consume food and excrete waste throughout their lives. The waste products of some types of bacteria are sulfur compounds, and they are the cause of the unpleasant odor. Remember what a rotten egg smells like? This smell is also caused by the formation of a sulfur compound in the egg - hydrogen sulfide. The characteristic smell of compost heaps or barnyards also owes its “fragrance” to the presence of a sulfur compound - methyl mercaptan. And both of these compounds are released by bacteria that live in our mouths. These substances are collectively called "volatile sulfur compounds" (VSCs). The term "volatile" means that these substances evaporate quickly, even at normal temperatures. The “volatility” of these compounds explains their ability to quickly penetrate, so to speak, into the noses of the people around us. Although these substances mainly create bad breath, bacteria. living in the oral cavity, they also secrete other products that have a very unpleasant aroma. Here are some of them:

Cadavrine is a substance that produces a characteristic cadaverous odor.
- Putrescine - forms a stench when meat rots.
- Skatole is the main component of the odor of human feces.

You will probably be quite surprised to learn that in an ordinary human mouth there can be such a “bouquet” of unpleasant odors - but this is so, and, unfortunately, there are no exceptions. Every person, to one degree or another, has these, so to speak, aromas in his breath. Fortunately, the human sense of smell does not detect these odors if their concentration in the breath is low. Only when it rises does that characteristic unpleasant odor form.

What types of bacteria cause bad odor?

Most chemical compounds that cause an unpleasant odor (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, cadavrine, putrescine, skatole) are secreted by anaerobic bacteria (their more accurate name is gram-negative anaerobes). The term "anaerobic" means that they live and reproduce best in places where there is no oxygen. In our mouths, there is a constant struggle for living space between bacteria that produce products that create an unpleasant odor, and other bacteria that do not. The freshness of our breath is determined, strictly speaking, by the degree of balance in the presence of both bacteria. Accumulation of plaque (the white film that forms on the tongue and teeth - at the gum line and below) can tip this balance in favor of odor-producing bacteria. Imagine - a layer of plaque only one or two tenths of a millimeter thick (that is, approximately banknote) no longer contains oxygen at all - that is, there is no better place for bacteria. Therefore, as plaque accumulates, it is inhabited by more and more bacteria that create an unpleasant odor - which means that each of our exhalations contains more and more compounds released by these bacteria.

What do anaerobic bacteria that produce an unpleasant odor feed on?

Most of the foul-smelling substances that cause bad breath are released by bacteria after consuming protein. That is, when we eat foods such as meat or fish, the bacteria living in our mouth also receive their share of food. And what they secrete after eating are those same compounds. which cause an unpleasant odor. Anaerobic bacteria will find proteins - their favorite food - in anything, even the cheeseburger you eat. In addition, in our mouths there is always “natural” protein food for them - for example, dead skin cells, or numerous protein components contained in saliva. If you do not regularly use a toothbrush and floss, a real feast for bacteria will form in your mouth - leftover food from today's breakfast, yesterday's dinner, the day before yesterday's lunch...

Which foods contain the most protein?

Meat, fish and seafood, eggs, dairy products (milk, cheeses and yoghurts) - all these products contain a lot of protein. Most people get about two-thirds of their protein needs from them. Other sources of protein are cereals and products made from them, nuts, leguminous plants (peas, beans and lentils). The ingredients found in many of our favorite desserts (like cakes and pies) make these delicious foods protein pantries.

Where do the bacteria that cause bad odor live?

In most cases, these bacteria accumulate on the tongue, but they have many other “habitats.”

Language

Remember the "experiment" we recommended you do at the beginning of this section. Although the odor produced at the front of our tongue may not be the most pleasant, it is usually not the main source of breath freshness problems. The main “component” of the unpleasant odor is formed in the back of the tongue. Go to the mirror, stick out your tongue and look at it carefully. You will probably see a whitish coating on its surface. Closer to the back of the tongue, this coating becomes denser. The number of bacteria that accumulate on the human tongue depends on the texture of its surface. People whose tongue surface has more folds, grooves and indentations will have more of this number than people with a smoother tongue surface. In order to create a favorable environment for the life of bacteria in the white layer of the tongue - i.e. deprived of oxygen - this layer can have a thickness of only one or two tenths of a millimeter. This “oxygen-free” environment is also called “anaerobic”; This is where bacteria live and multiply best. Studies have shown that the number of bacteria on the human tongue directly depends on the thickness of the white layer covering it. And as you can guess, the freshness of your breath depends on the number of bacteria: the fewer there are, the fresher it is.

Periodontal sources

Bacteria that cause an unpleasant odor also feel quite comfortable in areas of the oral cavity other than the tongue. Perhaps you have noticed that while flossing your teeth, an unpleasant odor sometimes also appears. And perhaps this smell becomes more noticeable when you start brushing between your back teeth. In the spaces between the teeth, bacteria that create an unpleasant odor also find refuge. Dentists call these areas “periodontal” (“paro” means “about” and “dont” means “tooth”). Even in a more or less healthy mouth, bacteria can find an oxygen-deprived (anaerobic) environment - for example, under the gum line, around and between teeth. And in people suffering from periodontal disease (“gum disease”), the number of such anaerobic “corners” increases many times over. Periodontal disease often damages the bone that surrounds the teeth. This, in turn, leads to the formation of depressions between the teeth and gums (dentists call them “periodontal pockets”). These pockets are usually very difficult or impossible to clean, and they become an ideal anaerobic environment in which odor-causing bacteria live and thrive.

How to get rid of an unpleasant odor?

Since the main source of bad breath is foul-smelling bacterial secretions (volatile sulfur compounds), the main way to get rid of them is to cleanse the oral cavity in such a way as to:

Deprive bacteria of nutrients.
- Reduce the amount of bacteria already accumulated in the mouth.
- Reduce the anaerobic environment in which bacteria live and multiply.
- Prevent the formation of new breeding grounds for bacteria.

You can also use cleaners that reduce the activity of odor-causing volatile sulfur compounds.

How to deprive bacteria of nutrients?

As you may remember, the main source of bad breath is the foul-smelling waste bacteria produce when digesting proteins. Therefore, people who eat a vegetarian diet (consisting mainly of fruits and vegetables) are less likely to have problems with fresh breath than those who consume a lot of protein foods, such as meat. In addition, it is very important to clean it promptly and correctly. oral cavity- especially after consuming protein-rich foods. After finishing breakfast, lunch or dinner, tiny particles of food remain in our mouths, which get stuck between the teeth and also settle in a white coating on the back of the tongue. And since it is in these places that anaerobic bacteria accumulate, causing an unpleasant odor, then, without properly cleaning your mouth after eating, you will thereby provide them with a sufficient amount of nutrients for a long time.

To get rid of unpleasant odor, you need to brush your teeth and gums. The bacteria that produce products that cause bad breath also live in the plaque that accumulates on the teeth and gum line. In order to reduce this plaque, prevent its further accumulation and remove food debris that “lingers” in the mouth and serves as food for bacteria, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums with a toothbrush and dental floss. About dental floss Let us remind you once again. If you do not thoroughly and daily clean the spaces between your teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach, you will hardly be able to get rid of bad breath.

Diagnosis of the causes of bad breath

Particular attention must be paid to diagnostic methods. First of all, you need to inform your doctor about the presence of chronic diseases. It has been established that the occurrence of bad breath is significantly influenced by nutritional and hygienic factors, therefore patients are advised to refrain from eating, drinking, rinsing the mouth and smoking for at least two hours before diagnostic measures.

The first is a hedonic research method, carried out by a doctor who evaluates the quality and strength of the unpleasant odor, and gives a rating on the Rosenberg scale from 0 to 5 points. The main drawback of the method is subjectivity.

The next step is to measure the amount of sulfur compounds in the exhaled air using a special sulfide monitoring device “Halimeter”. Hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide account for 90% of all volatile sulfur compounds in the oral cavity, so measuring the concentration of these gases is the main way to determine the severity of halitosis.

The next stage is microbiological examination. Diagnostic stage is very important, since depending on the source of the unpleasant odor and the reasons that caused it, the treatment tactics will depend.

Visit your dentist

If, after all the measures taken, the bad breath does not disappear, call and make an appointment with your dentist, where you can not only discuss the problem in detail, but also carry out the necessary procedures to clean your mouth. This may be the best solution because:

1) Not all people know how to use dental floss and dental floss most effectively. After examining your mouth, your doctor will teach you the necessary techniques.

2) Effective cleaning of teeth can be hindered by tartar built up on them. Your dentist will remove it.

3) If you have signs of periodontal disease (“gum disease”), your doctor will identify them and provide you with appropriate treatment. Periodontal disease can seriously damage your teeth and the surrounding bone. This creates deep “pockets” between the teeth and gums in which bacteria accumulate, so deep that they are difficult or even impossible to clean.

4) During the examination, your doctor will identify - if any - other untreated diseases that may increase the unpleasant odor.

5) If your doctor seems unlikely that these diseases are the cause of the unpleasant odor, he will suggest that you make an appointment with a therapist and will provide appropriate explanations.

You need to clean your tongue thoroughly

Since most people tend to ignore this procedure, try making it part of your daily oral care routine. Very often, the use of this method alone - without additional measures - helps eliminate the unpleasant odor. Think back again to the “experiment” we recommended you do at the beginning of this section. Then we found that the front of the tongue has a less unpleasant odor than the back. This happens because the front area of the tongue constantly cleans itself - and therefore fewer anaerobic bacteria accumulate on it. As the tongue moves, its front part constantly rubs against the hard palate - this is how cleansing occurs. preventing the accumulation of bacteria. Unlike the front, the back of the tongue during its movement comes into contact only with the soft palate. In this case, effective cleaning is not possible. Therefore, odor-causing bacteria accumulate mainly on the back of the tongue, which is why it is this area that needs periodic cleaning.

How to properly clean your tongue? There are several ways to clean the back of the tongue, but they all have the same goal - to remove bacteria and food debris that accumulate in this area. When cleaning your tongue - no matter what method you use - you should try to get as far as possible to clean as much as possible. large area its surface. If you start choking, don't be surprised. This is a natural reaction, but over time this reflex should weaken.

How to clean your tongue using a toothbrush or a special brush.

You can use a toothbrush or a special tongue brush to clean the surface of your tongue. Start brushing with the furthest areas you can reach, then gradually move the brush strokes (directed anteriorly) towards the front of the tongue. The movements should be made with some pressure on the surface of the tongue - but, of course, not too strong so as not to cause irritation. To more effectively clean your tongue, you can use toothpaste, since it contains the same ingredients as mouth cleansers. You can learn more about this on the page dedicated to oral cleaners. Pastes that neutralize volatile sulfur compounds. Since VSCs are what cause bad odors, toothpastes containing VSC-neutralizing agents - such as chlorine dioxide or zinc - improve the freshness of your breath.

Pastes with antibacterial properties

If the toothpaste you use contains antibacterial agents - such as chlorine dioxide or cetylpyridone chloride - you can both "expel" and destroy anaerobic bacteria when cleaning your tongue.

Although brushing your tongue with a toothbrush can provide quite satisfactory results, many people prefer to use a special tongue scraping spoon, believing this method is more effective. Some patients claim that they choke less when scraping their tongue with a spoon than when cleaning it with a toothbrush or special brush. In order to test your reaction to this method, you can conduct a simple experiment. Take a regular spoon from the kitchen (better a tea spoon than a table spoon), turn it over and try to scrape your tongue with it. To do this, touch the back of your tongue with a spoon, press it lightly and pull it forward. Do this carefully, but without effort. Don't scrub too hard as this may irritate the surface of your tongue. If scraping as a method is not objectionable to you, buy a special spoon designed for this purpose at the pharmacy. It is quite possible that it will clean the tongue more effectively than a teaspoon.

What types of liquid mouth cleaners can help get rid of bad breath?

Liquid mouth rinses, when used along with regular and effective tongue cleaning, brushing and flossing, can also help a lot in getting rid of bad odor. You should not just rely on rinse aids and neglect the other measures listed. The ability of a liquid mouthwash to effectively combat bad breath is associated with some of its properties, namely:

A) Antibacterial properties. If a mouthwash has the ability to kill bacteria, it can help reduce the amount of anaerobic bacteria in your mouth. Since it is these bacteria that emit volatile sulfur compounds, which in turn form bad breath, the fewer of these bacteria there are in the mouth, the better.

C) The ability to neutralize volatile sulfur compounds. Rinse aids contain components that have the ability to neutralize volatile sulfur compounds and the substances that form them. As you remember, volatile sulfur compounds are foul-smelling substances that create an unpleasant odor. If a purifier is able to reduce their content in your breath, then it will naturally be fresher.

Listed below are some substances that have the ability to effectively neutralize unpleasant odors. These substances are usually included in mouthwashes sold in pharmacies.

A) Rinse aids containing chlorine dioxide or sodium chlorite (Antibacterial / Neutralizes volatile sulfur compounds)
Many dentists believe that rinses containing chlorine dioxide or its constituent sodium chlorite play a critical role in neutralizing bad breath. Research data suggests that chlorine dioxide has a dual effect:

Chlorine dioxide is an oxidizing substance (meaning it releases oxygen). Since most odor-causing bacteria are anaerobic (that is, they prefer to live in places where there is no oxygen), exposure to an oxidizing agent helps reduce their numbers, which consequently reduces the unpleasant odor.

Chlorine dioxide also affects the level of volatile sulfur compounds in the mouth. It neutralizes those compounds that bacteria have already released, and at the same time destroys those substances from which these compounds are subsequently formed. The result is that the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds in the mouth decreases sharply, and the breath, of course, becomes cleaner.

B) Rinse aids containing zinc (Neutralizes volatile sulfur compounds)
Research has shown that rinse aids containing zinc ions can also reduce the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds. It is believed that this is due to the ability of zinc ions to destroy those substances from which bacteria “make” sulfur compounds.

B) “Antiseptic” type rinses (Antibacterial)
"Antiseptic" cleaners (such as Listerine and its equivalents) are also considered suitable odor neutralizers. The effectiveness of these products is related to their ability to kill bacteria that produce volatile sulfur compounds. However, “antiseptic” rinses themselves cannot destroy these compounds. Many dentists believe that "antiseptic" rinses are not the best choice. These claims are also due to the fact that “antiseptic” mouthwashes have a high alcohol content (often around 25 percent). Alcohol is a strong desiccant (dehydrating agent) and therefore dries out the soft tissues of the mouth. And if you remember our section on xerostomia, dry mouth can be one of the causes of unpleasant odor.

D) Rinse aids containing cetylpyridone chloride (Antibacterial)
Cetylpyridinium chloride is a component that is sometimes included in liquid mouthwashes. Having an antibacterial effect, it helps reduce the number of anaerobic bacteria.

Do mint tablets, lozenges, drops, sprays and chewing gum help get rid of unpleasant odor?

As well as liquid rinses, mints, lozenges, drops, sprays, chewing gum, etc. By themselves, they are not the most effective means of eliminating unpleasant odors. However, when used in conjunction with careful and regular tongue cleaning, brushing and flossing, these products can have very positive effects - especially if they contain substances (such as chlorine dioxide, sodium chlorite and zinc) that can neutralize volatile sulfur compounds. In addition, mints, lozenges, and chewing gum stimulate saliva production. And we already know that saliva cleanses the oral cavity of bacteria and their secretions, which means it helps get rid of unpleasant odor.

How to use liquid mouthwash to achieve the greatest effect?

Bacteria that create an unpleasant odor live both on the surface and in the depths of white plaque, which accumulates on and around the teeth, gums, tongue. An antibacterial rinse by itself cannot penetrate into the depths of this plaque, and therefore, before using such a cleaner, it is better to remove as much plaque as possible using your usual methods - scraping the tongue, brushing and flossing. By rinsing your mouth with mouthwash after these procedures, you can remove any remaining bacteria. You don’t just need to put the mouthwash in your mouth, but rinse it properly. Before rinsing, say “ah-ah” - this will allow you to stick out your tongue, so that the rinse gets to the back area of it, where bacteria accumulate. After rinsing, the rinse aid should be immediately spit out. This is why children should not be allowed to use mouthwash - they may accidentally swallow it.

How to clean dentures

If your dentist has installed dentures in your mouth, he or she must explain to you how to properly clean them. Since bacteria accumulates on your dentures in the same way as on natural teeth, on your tongue and gums, your doctor will advise you to clean your dentures with a regular toothbrush or a special brush, both the outside and inside of them. After cleaning the dentures, they should be placed in a container with antiseptic liquid(your dentist will also advise you which one).

What measures can you take on your own to get rid of an unpleasant odor?

Drink more water
Oddly enough, drinking plenty of water throughout the day will also help you reduce bad odor. If there is a lack of water, your body will try to retain it, which will reduce the production of saliva, and it will be less effective in dissolving and washing away bacteria and their secretions, which create an unpleasant odor. Drinking enough water every day is especially important for those suffering from xerostomia (chronic dry mouth).

Rinse your mouth with water
Rinsing your mouth with plain water will also help relieve bad odor for a short period of time. Rinsing also dissolves and washes away bacterial secretions that harm the freshness of your breath.

Stimulate saliva production
This will also help you reduce bad odor. You remember that saliva cleanses the mouth, dissolving and washing away bacteria and their secretions. The easiest way to stimulate saliva production is to chew something. When you chew—anything—your body thinks you're eating food, so it signals it to increase saliva production. (Saliva is a very important component in digesting food). You can, for example, chew clove seeds, dill, mint or parsley. Peppermint tablets, chewing gum and mint candies help salivation. But: if you prefer these products, make sure they do not contain sugar. Sugar promotes the growth of bacteria that can cause tooth decay.

Maintain your oral hygiene especially carefully after consuming protein foods.
Anaerobic bacteria produce volatile sulfur compounds - the cause of unpleasant odors - as a result of consuming proteins. After you eat meat, fish or any other protein-rich food, thoroughly clean your mouth so that the smallest particles of protein food do not serve as a breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria.

Treatment of helminthiases helps eliminate bad breath in children
Scientists note that parents often notice bad breath in children with intestinal helminthiases (especially enterobiasis), which goes away after the helminths are eradicated. Scientists suggest that the cause of the unpleasant odor may be stagnation of intestinal contents due to the presence of worms.

What diseases cause bad breath?

Diseases of teeth and gums (

Taking many medications can also have a detrimental effect on the freshness of your breath.

Treatment for bad breath

First of all, you should contact your dentist for diagnosis and treatment. The doctor will determine whether there is caries or gum disease, perform sanitation (disinfection) of the oral cavity, and remove tartar if present. As a rule, after this the smell ceases to bother most patients.

If the dentist concludes that the odor does not originate in the oral cavity, but in the deeper structures of the body, he will refer you to a therapist.

The therapist will prescribe an examination to determine the cause of your concerns and will treat the disease that he identifies. Many will be disappointed that they didn't find the name of a bad breath pill here, but smart people will realize that the treatment will vary depending on your personal cause of the bad breath. A whole range of drugs may be needed, including antibiotics, which, as is known, cannot be used without identifying the pathogenic microorganism, and this can only be done through medical tests.

Which doctors should you contact if you have bad breath?

Dentist
Gastroenterologist
Therapist (general practitioner)

Bad breath is a pressing problem for many modern people. On the one hand, it causes discomfort to others, since communication with a person who smells bad cannot evoke positive emotions. On the other hand, this phenomenon can provoke the development of complexes in the carrier of an unpleasant odor. Some people are ashamed of communicating with family and friends due to the presence of an unpleasant odor. Let's look at how to overcome bad breath, the causes and treatment of this problem.
To effectively combat this phenomenon, it is very important to correctly determine the cause of its development. Foul odors when breathing and talking are a characteristic symptom of many diseases. Some of them are not life-threatening and appear as a result of metabolic disorders or careless attitude to oral hygiene. However, in other situations, the cause of this phenomenon can be quite dangerous ailments that require immediate treatment. An example would be the development of tumor processes in the throat, one of the main symptoms of which is the appearance of bad breath.
In medicine, the appearance of bad breath is called halitosis. This is not a disease, but a phenomenon that appears due to certain disturbances in the functioning of the body.
Doctors view halitosis primarily as a symptom. Considering the significant discomfort it causes to the patient, many people strive to get rid of the unpleasant odor as quickly as possible. As mentioned earlier, the process of treating this phenomenon depends on the causes of its occurrence.
Very often, popular hygiene products (mouth rinses, special toothpastes or breath freshening inhalers) are not enough to combat an unpleasant odor; in such a situation, it is important to eliminate the cause of the foul odor.

The problem of bad breath was considered by ancient philosophers, who stated that nothing spoils a person more than an “untidy mouth.” Nowadays, in various countries, from 30 to 65% of the population suffers from this disease. It is worth noting that residents of highly developed countries, whose citizens very often lead an unhealthy lifestyle, are most susceptible to the development of this phenomenon.

Where to look for the causes of halitosis

In most cases, the cause of the development of the disease lies in:

In the first case, the main reason for the appearance of bad odor is poor hygiene and the development of inflammatory processes in the oral cavity. If the reason lies in respiratory tract As a rule, the appearance of halitosis is caused by viral, infectious or chronic inflammatory processes.
If the problem lies in the gastrointestinal tract, the stench appears due to a wide variety of disorders of the digestive processes or diseases of the digestive system. Disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine glands can greatly affect the composition of hormonal substances in the body. An increase in the concentration of certain hormones in saliva can cause bad breath.

How to detect the presence of halitosis yourself

Very often, people do not even realize that their breath is stale. There are also situations when a person is embarrassed by his breath, considering it smelly, for absolutely no reason.
There are several ways to detect halitosis at home. The easiest way is to ask a question to a loved one and ask for a frank answer, but not everyone is able to take such a step, so the following methods are also suitable.

The fact is that a person very often does not smell his own smell, which is felt by others. This is the main reason why many do not even realize there is a problem.
It is best to carry out the test at home at lunchtime or in the evening. It is important that at least three hours pass after hygiene procedures. Some toothpastes can significantly mask odors for a certain period of time.
Next, we will consider in detail the causes of bad breath and the treatment of this phenomenon.

Main causes of halitosis

In most cases, the causes of bad breath are hidden in the oral cavity. In this case, the help of a professional dentist may be required. Among the main reasons for the development of hilitosis are:

If the causes of unpleasant odor are not related to the oral cavity, the situation becomes significantly worse, since it may indicate the presence of serious health problems. Very often, an unpleasant odor is associated with respiratory diseases. Its appearance may be caused by infectious or viral diseases, but in such a situation, halitosis will disappear after full recovery. The situation is much more complicated in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. Chronic bronchitis, pharyngitis and other common diseases are often the cause of bad breath. If the stench from the oral cavity is associated with similar ailments, it is almost impossible to get rid of it without stopping the chronic inflammatory process. If digestive processes are disrupted, an unpleasant odor can appear both due to the release of gases from the stomach and due to changes in the composition of saliva.

First of all, this problem is observed in patients with chronic gastritis, various ailments of the liver and pancreas. In a situation with liver diseases, a person can easily determine the presence of foul odors by the bitterness in the mouth. Halitosis due to hormonal imbalances is characteristic of a wide variety of disorders. Very often, a similar phenomenon is observed in women during the menstrual cycle. In such a situation, the composition of saliva changes significantly, which provokes an unpleasant odor.

People with tobacco or alcohol addiction are at risk. If moderate alcohol consumption does not cause severe harm, abuse contributes to the development inflammatory processes in the stomach, liver problems and damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.

Tobacco also greatly increases the development of inflammatory processes in the oral cavity and respiratory system.
Bad breath in the morning is quite common. In such a situation at night, due to insufficient saliva secretion and the presence of residues fine particles food greatly increases the number of harmful microorganisms that produce unpleasant odors.
Most people manage to get rid of bad smell after morning hygiene procedures. To completely eliminate the problem, it is enough to

Clean your mouth thoroughly before going to bed and avoid eating food in the evening.

Halitosis in tumor processes

Oncologists regard bad breath as an alarming symptom indicating the development of tumor processes in the respiratory tract or oral cavity. In such a situation, bad breath is a consequence of the inflammatory process, which is provoked by a tumor.
With the development of cancer, a strong discharge of pus is characteristic. If a putrid odor appears, you should undergo a medical examination. However, there is no need to panic. This phenomenon can also be observed during the development of chronic inflammatory processes. You should contact an oncologist if, in addition to bad breath, you also experience other alarming symptoms that are characteristic of cancer.

Bad breath is quite common in children. If at 4 years old a child has bad breath, there may be several reasons. It is quite difficult to teach children to brush their teeth thoroughly, so the reason most often lies in poor oral hygiene.
However, children are also often susceptible to developing various infectious and viral diseases due to an insufficiently strengthened immune system. A baby's bad breath can be caused by colds and viral diseases of the respiratory tract, as well as jaundice, which young children suffer from quite often.
If the child has no other alarming symptoms, most likely the problem will be solved after improving the quality of hygienic care.

Who is most susceptible to the disease?

There are several factors that significantly increase your risk of bad breath. The likelihood of developing halitosis increases greatly if you have:

work disorders endocrine system;
excess weight;
problems with salivation;
increased gas formation during digestion;
hormonal imbalances;
disorders immune system;
disturbances in intestinal function;
diseases of the stomach, liver and gall bladder;
inflammatory processes in the oral cavity;
bad habits(tobacco, alcohol or drug addiction).

As mentioned earlier, bad breath is often caused by various disorders in the body, so the presence of a wide variety of factors significantly increases the likelihood of its occurrence. Poor oral hygiene in combination with other less significant factors, significantly aggravate the situation.
In the case of bad habits, a combined blow is applied to many systems of the body. Tobacco smoke significantly irritates the oral mucosa, actively contributing to the occurrence of inflammation. It also contributes to the development chronic diseases respiratory system, which entails the appearance of the smell of pus. Alcohol harms the mucous membranes of the mouth, respiratory system and stomach.

Professional diagnostics

If a person notices bad breath, the first thing they should do is consult a dentist. In 80% of cases of bad breath, problems are caused by dental reasons. The dentist will be able to carefully examine the oral cavity and discover the cause of the problem, after which the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment.

If the appearance of halitosis is not associated with dentistry, the patient will have to visit specialists in a wide variety of fields to identify the cause of the development of the pathology. Specialists such as a gastroenterologist, ENT specialist, and endocrinologist can help.

Treatment of halitosis

The treatment process for halitosis depends on the cause of development. of this disorder. As mentioned above, in most cases this phenomenon is associated with problems of the oral cavity. To get rid of bad odor in such a situation, the help of a dentist and more careful care of the hygienic condition of the mouth will be enough.
The dentist will help remove pathogenic microorganisms in the most hard to reach places ah, after which the inflammation will go away. If the problem is tooth decay, the dentist will treat the disease. You should also consult a dentist about oral care. This will help prevent the problem from occurring in the future. To improve the condition of the oral cavity, you should:

Choose a suitable toothbrush. It should not be too hard, since hard brushes irritate the mucous membrane due to excessive mechanical stress. The brush should have the ability to remove dirt from hard-to-reach places. You need to brush your teeth for at least 5 minutes. You also need to pay attention to removing plaque from the tongue.
Choose the right one toothpaste. Some toothpastes have medicinal properties. Their use is recommended in case of inflammation of the gums and problems with the teeth and oral mucosa. However, some types of toothpaste irritate the mucous membranes. In certain situations, an individual reaction of the body to some of its constituent elements is possible. It is important to choose a toothpaste that will have the most beneficial effect on the oral cavity.
Use dental floss. It will help thoroughly remove plaque and food debris between the teeth. This is one of the main foci for the development of pathogenic microorganisms.
Use rinsing solutions. Using a mouth rinse will complement the positive effect of combating pathogenic microflora and help freshen your breath. Many of them contain extracts of beneficial herbs that help relieve inflammation.

You can also use aerosol-based mouth fresheners and chewing gum, but their effect is short-lived and not always very noticeable.

If the cause of halitosis is hidden in another problem, it is important to identify and get rid of it. Many people learn what to do in such a situation from traditional medicine recipes. Indeed, folk remedies can be very effective. Garlic, lemon juice and ginger infusion will help improve oral hygiene. They also have a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. A decoction of milk with sage helps get rid of chronic diseases of the respiratory system. Many plants, vegetables and fruits have antibacterial properties. Medicinal plants can improve the functioning of all body systems, so a variety of folk recipes will help you find a method of treatment in any situation.
Don't forget that help qualified specialist will help not only to choose the most optimal method of treatment, but also to identify a variety of problems in case they are the cause of the unpleasant odor. Treatment prescribed by a doctor can be combined with the use of folk remedies to increase effectiveness.
Since bad habits significantly contribute to the development of bad breath, it is almost impossible to get rid of the problem without giving up the use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs. Even if it is temporarily possible to eliminate the cause of halitosis, very soon the problem will return again.
Normalizing your diet helps improve digestive processes. It is important to eat fresh and cooked vegetables, with the exception of those that increase gas formation. It is very important to reduce your consumption of fried foods and fast food.
Bad breath is a solvable problem. In most cases, the pathologies that cause this disease do not cause severe damage to the health of the body and do not pose a threat to the patient’s life. However, this phenomenon should not be ignored, because if it is caused by certain disturbances in the functioning of the body, then complications may develop.

Bad breath - halitosis.
When your breath smells bad, it is unpleasant. And not only to the source of the trouble, so to speak, but also to everyone who is nearby. Everyone knows that it won’t just smell bad - it’s a symptom of problems with the gastrointestinal tract or oral cavity. Bad breath may be associated with work problems gastro- intestinal tract for diseases of the respiratory system, oral mucosa, as well as insufficient hygiene. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to find out the root cause and begin treatment of the underlying disease.
Bad breath is most often caused by poor dental care. In women, halitosis is often associated with endocrinological problems. People with high blood sugar often complain of halitosis. And the special treatment prescribed by the dentist often turns out to be ineffective. This is no wonder - after all, the reason lies not in the mouth, but in the pancreas. So no dental hygiene products will help in this situation. The disease itself must be treated.
And while you are looking for the essence of the problem and treating it, read how to get rid of the smell (when the main illness passes, then this symptom will disappear).

Folk remedies can also cope well with the problem of bad breath.

So, here are a few ways to get rid of bad breath:
1. Eat candied anise seeds and nuts every day on an empty stomach.
2. Mix 2 tbsp. vegetable oil (ideally olive) with 1 tsp. salt and rinse your mouth with this mixture for 3-5 minutes twice a day - morning and evening. After rinsing, do not eat or drink anything.
3. Dilute 20-30 drops of alcohol tincture of St. John's wort herb (made according to the instructions on the package) in 0.5 tbsp. water and rinse your mouth.
4. Eat 0.5 tsp after each meal. ginger powder.
5. Eat 1-2 small apples on an empty stomach in the morning, after rinsing your mouth with clean warm water.

Rinses for bad breath

1. Pour 0.5 liters of boiling water over 2 tbsp. spoons of gray alder leaves. Leave it overnight and strain. Rinse your mouth four to six times a day.
2. Pour 2 teaspoons of wormwood into a glass of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes, strain. Rinse your mouth four to six times a day.
3. Take oak bark, St. John's wort and nettle herbs, birch leaves, and chamomile flowers in equal proportions. Brew as tea and drink 1/2 glass three to four times a day.

Take 2 tsp. anise seeds, pour 1 cup of boiling water over them, leave for 20 minutes, and then strain. Rinse your mouth and throat after eating. Anise has an anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effect. It is useful for the respiratory and digestive systems, with its help you can cure many diseases of the throat and gums

Get rid of bad breath

Chew a sprig of sage or crack a coffee bean.

Herbs to relieve bad breath

To reduce bad breath, medicinal plants with bactericidal, anti-putrefactive and deodorizing properties are recommended. The following infusions and decoctions have a good healing effect.
Mix the herb St. John's wort and wormwood (equal parts). Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 tbsp. l. collection, leave for 45 minutes, strain. Rinse your mouth 4-5 times a day after meals, in the morning and at night.
Wild strawberry herb, blue blackberry and peppermint (equal parts) - prepare an infusion with this collection and use it in the same way as in the first recipe.
Mix the rhizomes of calamus and oak bark in equal parts. Pour 1 tbsp. l. collect 0.5 liters of water, bring to a boil, boil for 15 minutes, let steep for 20 minutes and strain. Also use the resulting decoction for rinsing several times a day after meals.

Folk remedies for bad breath

There can be several reasons for bad breath: caries and chronic tonsillitis, gastritis, periodontal disease, gingivitis, etc.
For traditional medicine, try the following recipes.

Rinse your mouth with an infusion of calamus rhizomes, an alcohol tincture of St. John's wort, diluted with water (20 drops of alcohol tincture in half a glass of cool boiled water).
For bad breath, an infusion of wild strawberry leaves or berries is also used.
(for 1 part of raw material take 5 parts of water).
An infusion of thyme herb (1:3) is also effective. 1 tbsp. pour a spoonful of chopped celery roots with a glass of vodka, leave in a dark, warm place for 2 weeks, strain.
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of tincture in a warm glass boiled water and rinse your mouth and throat 2-3 times a day.
1 tbsp. Pour a spoonful of horseradish gruel into a glass of vodka, leave for 3 days, shaking the contents periodically, and strain. 1 tbsp. Dilute a spoonful of tincture in a glass of warm water and use the resulting solution to rinse your mouth and throat.
This remedy helps not only with bad breath, but also with gum inflammation.
Wormwood is considered a popular remedy for eliminating bad breath in many countries.
Prepare strong wormwood tea: 1 tbsp. Brew a spoonful of raw materials with a glass of boiling water and leave for 40 minutes.
Rinse your mouth with wormwood tea after eating.
Chew nutmeg slowly and keep it in your mouth, it will make your breath fresh and pleasant (nutmeg even eliminates the smell of onions and garlic). In addition, this nut strengthens the heart, has a beneficial effect on the stomach and liver, and helps improve digestion. The dose of nutmeg per dose is 1 -1.5 g.
Rinse your mouth with fresh juice from sorrel leaves, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:2.
To prepare the juice, wash fresh sorrel leaves, pound them in a porcelain mortar with a wooden pestle, tie them in cheesecloth and squeeze.
It is not recommended to use a juicer, since sorrel, due to its high acidity, causes metal damage and quickly oxidizes itself.
Dissolve 0.5 teaspoons of table salt in a glass of warm water, take the resulting solution into a small rubber bulb and inject the mixture into the nostril. At the same time, tilt your head back and hold the pear at a right angle to your face.
Do the same with the other nostril. Spit out any liquid that gets into your mouth.
At first there will be an unpleasant feeling, but then you will endure the procedure easier and easier.
This method, in addition to eliminating bad breath, also restores acid-base balance.
Add a few drops of lemon juice to the mint infusion and rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth. This infusion also strengthens the gums.

For bad breath

Chew fresh parsley leaves and root, and fennel seeds.
Roasted nuts neutralize the smell of onions and garlic well.
Rinse your mouth with an infusion of dried apricot fruits or an infusion of a mixture of spices (cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaf).

Recipe for improving digestion and fresh breath.

If your bad breath is due to digestive problems, this recipe may help get rid of it. Grate the zest of 3-4 lemons, add 2 tbsp. l. honey and 1/2 cup mint infusion. Take 1 tsp. 2 times a day after meals.
To eliminate bad breath, try temporarily replacing toothpaste with powdered milk. If you occasionally brush your teeth with powdered milk, not only the bad breath disappears, but also the formation of tartar. Teeth become whiter and gum bleeding decreases.

Tooth elixir for fresh breath

Dissolve in 1 tbsp. warm water, 2 drops each of peppermint and lemon. Rinse your mouth with the solution 2 times a day, morning and evening, after brushing your teeth.

Bad breath is a very common phenomenon among us. The reason for this is various diseases of the digestive system.

Bad breath is also a problem when communicating with other people. Modern medicine calls this condition when a person's breath smells extremely unpleasant - halitosis. In Latin - Halitoz.

In fact, halitosis cannot be called an independent disease; rather, it is a sign of pathological processes occurring in the body. Lack of proper oral care bad smell intensifies, causing discomfort not only to the patient, but also to others.

In this article we will look at why bad breath occurs in adults, what are the main causes of this symptom, and how to get rid of it at home.

How to check if your breath smells?

Many people who have unpleasant, repulsive breath are not even aware of the problem. It's good if close person or a friend will point it out. But this is not always possible, relatives are afraid of offending their loved one, and colleagues prefer to reduce communication with him to a minimum. But the problem remains.

There are several ways to test yourself:

Wrist test. Here it will be enough to lick your wrist and let the saliva dry. The smell you will smell after a few seconds is the smell of the front of your tongue. As a rule, it is much weaker than what it really is, because the front part of the tongue is cleaned by our saliva, which contains antibacterial components, while the back part of the tongue, in turn, is a breeding ground for unpleasant odors.
You can try breathe into your palm and instantly smell what you exhale. Or try to stick it out lower lip, pushing your jaw forward a little, roll your upper jaw inward and exhale sharply through your mouth, then smell what you exhaled.
Spoon test. Take a teaspoon, turn it over and run it over the surface of your tongue several times. There will be some white residue or saliva on the spoon. The smell coming from them is the smell of your breath.

TO additional features This may include the formation of plaque on the tongue, inflammation of the mucous membrane, and a feeling of unpleasant taste in the mouth. These symptoms do not directly indicate halitosis and may vary depending on the cause of the disease and the presence of complicating factors.

Causes of bad breath

The causes of halitosis can vary significantly, but before you look for them, you need to make sure that this smell really exists. Modern doctors There are several types of halitosis:

True halitosis, in which unpleasant breathing is objectively noticed by people around. The reasons for its occurrence may be related to physiological characteristics, insufficient oral hygiene, metabolic processes in the body, or be symptoms of certain diseases.
Pseudohalitosis is a subtle unpleasant breath that can be felt upon close contact with a person. Usually in such a situation the patient exaggerates the problem and it can be solved quite simply by increasing oral hygiene.
Halitophobia is a person’s belief that his breath smells, however, this is not confirmed by either the dentist or the people around him.

Also according to statistics:

80% of the causes of bad breath are related to problems in the oral cavity.
10% with ENT diseases.
only 5-10% with serious diseases of internal organs and systems - liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system organs, hormonal imbalances, metabolic disorders, autoimmune and oncological diseases.

The most basic thing to understand is that the main cause of the unpleasant odor coming from a person’s mouth is the activity of anaerobic bacteria (that is, bacteria that grow and multiply without access to oxygen). Their waste products - volatile sulfur compounds - are those very smelly gases that smell very unpleasant and lead to bad breath in humans.

Why does bad breath occur?

But there are many reasons that lead to the proliferation of these bacteria. We will analyze them in detail:

Poor oral hygiene. Most often, putrid breath is associated with poor oral hygiene, for example, when a person does not use dental floss to clean the interdental spaces from food debris. Surely many of you have felt the stinky breath of co-workers who had a snack at work but did not brush their teeth.
Gum diseases(and periodontitis). The cause of these ailments is poor oral hygiene, soft microbial plaque and hard tartar. When the amount of toxins secreted by plaque and tartar microorganisms exceeds the capabilities of the local immunity of the oral cavity, inflammation develops in the gums.
. Carious dental defects are filled with a huge amount of pathogenic microflora and there are always food residues left in them. This food and tooth tissue quickly begin to rot and as a result, your breath smells bad. If you want to eliminate bad breath, the first thing you need to do is treat your bad teeth.
Tartar development– dental plaque, which seeps in mineral salts (calcium salts) with its hardening and development chronic infection in it. More often, tartar is the result of gum pathology (gum pockets), which do not tightly cover the necks of the teeth and the spaces between their lateral edges.
Digestive system diseases( , ). In this case, this problem is caused by the pathology of non-closure of the esophageal sphincter, when odors from the stomach penetrate directly through the esophagus into the oral cavity.
. Those who suffer chronic inflammation tonsils - the same bad smell from the mouth. If you have weak immunity or there is a lot of infection in the oral cavity, then in this case periodic inflammation of the tonsils can develop into a sluggish chronic form inflammation. People who suffer from this form of inflammation of the tonsils often complain of terrible breath.
- inflammatory disease, which is accompanied by the formation of ulcers on the oral mucosa. Ulcers and thick white plaque are the source of halitosis.
- an inflammatory process in the membrane of the tongue, which can occur together with gingivitis or stomatitis.
Intestinal pathology(enteritis and). As a result of inflammatory processes in the intestines, toxic substances penetrate into the blood, which the body removes, including through the lungs, as a result of which bad breath appears.
Another common cause of halitosis is dry mouth: saliva does not moisturize or clean the mouth by washing away plaque and dead cells. Thus, the cells located on the gums inner surface cheeks and tongue, decompose, causing halitosis. Dry mouth can be caused by alcohol consumption, certain medications, and pathologies. salivary glands and so on.
Medications: Many medications, including antihistamines and diuretics, can cause dry mouth, which can cause bad breath. Such odor and treatment are often interrelated - a number of medications can lead to bad odor (insulin, triamterene, paraldehyde and many others).
Quite often the cause of bad breath is some products. Of course, onions and garlic are rightfully considered record holders here. However, after noisy feasts with a large number Meat and fatty foods can also cause bad breath. True, it goes away pretty quickly.
Tobacco products: quit smoking and chewing tobacco chemicals that linger in the mouth. Smoking can also accelerate other causes of bad breath, such as gum disease or oral cancer.

Whatever the various causes of bad breath, the source of all problems is bacteria. They are always in our oral cavity, creating a certain microflora there. Any living organism, and bacteria are no exception, when feeding, produces waste products, which are volatile sulfur compounds. It is these foul-smelling sulfurous volatile compounds that we smell from our mouths.

Experts believe that one of the most obvious causes of its appearance is the white matter that accumulates on the back of the tongue. It occurs when a person brushes their teeth incorrectly, leaving their tongue unattended.

How to treat bad breath

In case of bad breath, treatment is a separate topic for discussion, but what can be done to prevent it from appearing is important to know even for those who do not suffer from such a problem. After all, bad breath, if it appears, cannot be masked with mint candy.

As noted above, food particles remaining after eating are soil for the growth of bacteria. That is why a lot depends on oral hygiene. It is recommended to take care that after eating food there are no pieces of food left in the mouth, which, among other things, contribute to the formation of plaque and tartar. This requires:

Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush three times a day to remove food particles remaining in the mouth and stuck in the teeth;
clean the interdental spaces with dental floss;
clean the back of the tongue daily with a soft-bristled brush;
to stimulate salivation, regularly eat fresh fruits and vegetables and adhere to a diet;
to eliminate xerostomia (dry mouth), rinse your mouth with warm water;
visit the dentist regularly.

At home, rinsing with vegetable oil helps get rid of bad breath. To do this, take a small portion of oil into your mouth and hold it there for 10-15 minutes. Oil has the good property of dissolving all rotting products. Then spit and rinse your mouth thoroughly. You can't swallow this oil! If the procedure is carried out correctly, the oil should become cloudy.

Infusions of herbs such as peppermint, string, caraway, and wormwood have the ability to remove unpleasant odors. To clean the pockets in the gums, it is good to rinse after meals with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide, diluted 1:1 with water. Peroxide will clean even the deepest pockets well and eliminate the problem.

In addition to this, there are a large number modern means quick relief from bad breath: aerosol fresheners, chewing gum, lollipops, etc. They are distinguished by both rapid efficiency and low stability due to their short duration of action.

Which doctor should I contact?

If you experience bad breath, you should contact your dentist and go through professional cleaning teeth, cure diseases of teeth, gums, get rid of tartar.

If there is no effect, you should consult a gastroenterologist, and also, in rarer cases, an ENT doctor (for sinusitis or chronic rhinitis), pulmonologist (for bronchiectasis), endocrinologist (for diabetes).

It is very common to encounter people who cover their mouth with their palm during a conversation. Such gestures are caused by the presence of an unpleasant odor. We will try to understand the main causes and methods of treating bad breath in adults.

Types of bad breath

Halitosis ( medical name problems) is observed in the vast majority of the population. It can appear immediately after sleep, throughout the day, after eating, etc.

There is a certain classification:

true halitosis (felt both by the carrier and by people around him);
pseudohalitosis (felt only during direct communication with other people);
halitophobia (the patient inspires the disease into himself).

There are also physiological and pathological type. The first appears after absorption certain products, nicotine, etc. It is divided into oral (caused by problems in the oral cavity) and extraoral (develops due to internal disorders).

Chronic bad breath causes psychological discomfort to its wearer. A person becomes withdrawn, avoids close communication and group events, and his personal life collapses. Therefore, it is imperative to identify and effectively eliminate the problem.

Causes of bad breath

Halitosis often occurs after eating fatty and protein foods.

The main reason that explains the occurrence of bad breath in an adult is insufficient cleaning of the oral cavity. As a result, microbes begin to multiply, and as a result of their vital activity, a heavy putrefactive aroma is felt.

People who wear dentures are more likely to have bad breath than others. This means poor-quality cleaning of the prosthesis, which is why pathogenic organisms also accumulate on its walls.

Physiological reasons

Taking a specific group of medications.
Plaque on the teeth or tongue.
Severe dryness in the mouth.
Smoking.
Eating foods that cause an unpleasant aroma (onions, garlic, etc.).
Poor nutrition.

If a person often snores in his sleep, then he is likely to smell from his mouth in the morning. This is due to severe drying of the mucous membrane, as a result of which bacteria actively multiply.

Physiological causes also include stress and nervous tension, hormonal imbalance, weak immunity.

Pathological causes

Dental caries, stomatitis, periodontal disease, etc.
Ulcers in the mouth or throat (strong rotten smell).
Pathologies of the digestive system (smells of hydrogen sulfide).
Diseases of the pancreas, diabetes (acetone amber).
Pathologies of the liver and kidneys.
Availability malignant tumors, tuberculosis, pneumonia (putrid or purulent odor).

Very often, patients are diagnosed with halitophobia (fear of bad breath). This condition is absent when the main symptoms appear.

Diagnostic features

Treatment for bad breath occurs after diagnosis.

To understand that a disease has led to bad breath, pay attention to the accompanying symptoms:

bleeding from the gums;
pain;
bowel dysfunction (frequent constipation or diarrhea);
white coating on the tongue;
dry or wet cough;
nasal congestion;
nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness;
blood pressure surges.

To determine the presence of halitosis yourself, simply breathe into a closed palm or a paper napkin. If you feel the stench, then you need to visit medical specialist. You may need to consult a dentist, gastroenterologist, surgeon, or urologist.

The patient will be required to undergo laboratory tests of blood, urine, and stool. If necessary, the problem will be identified using ultrasound, X-ray diagnostics and other types of instrumental studies.

Ways to treat bad breath

As a rule, if there are physiological reasons, relief is quick and effective. Let's consider the main points of treatment in adults.

Oral hygiene

If your bad breath is a result of poor teeth cleaning, remember that this procedure must be done at least twice a day. In this case, certain rules are observed:

Dentists recommend using special mouthwashes daily. They remove food debris and eliminate pathogenic bacteria.
After eating or smoking, use oral hygiene products such as mouth spray, lozenges, or chewing gum.
During cleaning, it is imperative to carefully remove plaque from the tongue, which over time causes halitosis.
To clean the interdental spaces, you can use special dental floss.
Properly selected toothbrushes and toothpastes will also help get rid of halitosis.

If the cause of the stench is caries, stomatitis or other dental diseases, then it is imperative to treat them.

Pharmacy products

Similar drugs eliminate the original sources of the disease.

To treat halitosis, rinses are used that have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.

The following will help in the fight against bad odor:

"Listerine";
"Chlorhexidine";
"Remodent";
"Camphomen".

The attending physician will select the appropriate drug based on the cause of the problem.

Traditional methods

What to do when you urgently need to eliminate the smell, but there is no way to contact a pharmacist? Use traditional medicine.

Masking of bad breath is done by:

carnation;
propolis;
mint;
chamomile.

Teas and decoctions based on them provide a short-term effect. To quickly get rid of the stench, you can chew a few grains of cloves.

Drug therapy

Cure creepy associated with pathological reasons, bad breath can be diagnosed by a specialized specialist. For example, a dentist treats caries and periodontal disease.

The following drugs are used to treat pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs:

"Almagel" (for gastritis or ulcers);
“Festal”, “Creon” (to restore the functioning of the pancreas and improve intestinal motility);
antibiotics (in the presence of pathogenic bacterial microflora).

Independent decisions in this case will aggravate the situation. Only a specialist can cure the disease. Based on the results of a comprehensive examination, he will select the drug, its dosage and course duration.

Apples, carrots, and spinach help get rid of terrible breath. It is recommended to exclude from the diet dishes that may lead to the appearance of stench, which we listed above. Doctors may also prescribe certain dietary food if necessary.

Video: Five reasons for bad breath and how to eliminate them.

Are you or your loved ones plagued by problems associated with bad breath? Well, let's try to identify ways to solve this common problem.

It would seem that the problem is not so serious, however, it can first lead to problems in your personal life, in your career, and over time your health will deteriorate. To prevent all this from happening, let's talk about bad breath, causes, treatment, why your breath stinks, how to get rid of this unpleasant “aroma.”

What are the causes of bad breath?

There are several of them. One of them is unscrupulous oral care. Using toothpaste and a brush will not help you solve the problem of bad odor, as they are not sufficient for this. It should be borne in mind that pathogenic microbes, even after using toothpaste, will remain on the surface of the tongue, teeth and gums.

These bacteria will freely receive nutrition based on protein foods, while releasing sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide. And as you know, the smell of hydrogen sulfide emissions is very unpleasant, and when combined with periodontal disease, it becomes even worse.

There is also another reason for the unpleasant odor. It is associated with problems of the gastrointestinal tract. Insufficiently digested in large quantities food (such as meat with bread, then sweets, and then alcohol) adversely affects the odor from the mouth.

The intestinal tract accumulates fecal formations that are formed due to such food, causing fecal formations to impede the flow of waste to the exit, and unpleasant odors begin to be released.

Thus, the work of the intestinal tract is directly related to the problem, but not only it. A sore stomach can also be the reason why your breath stinks. Considering all of the above, it is necessary to highlight ways to solve the problem.

What can be done?

Firstly, after each brushing of your teeth, do not forget to rinse your mouth thoroughly. You should also use special dental floss to help clean the spaces between your teeth. It is also very important to clean your tongue.

To clean the surface of the tongue, use a special brush or improvised means in the form of gauze wrapped around your finger. The result obtained will make you convinced of the need for the procedure.

You can get rid of bad breath by rinsing your mouth using vegetable oil, preferably homemade oil. A similar oil recipe was used in Tibet. Its usefulness is due to the fact that it helps absorb bad odors, and it also helps cleanse the blood.

It is necessary to rinse your mouth for about 15 minutes, spitting out the oil without fail. It is very important not to swallow this oil, as it will be harmful to you. It is advisable to perform these rinses 2 times during the day. If swallowed, you may be seriously poisoned.

The same should be said about rinsing your mouth with hydrogen peroxide. Take three percentage solution and dilute with water in a one to one ratio. Then rinse your mouth - do this for about a few minutes.

You can also rinse your mouth with infusions of cumin, peppermint, and bitter wormwood, pouring boiling water over the herb (a couple of tablespoons of herb per glass of boiling water). Repeat the procedure about five times a day.

Frequent consumption of apples, which help cleanse the mouth and tract, will help resolve the odor problem.

In case of problems with your teeth, consult a specialist immediately, as this will also affect your bad breath and the entry of germs into your stomach.

Summarizing all that has been said, it is worth noting that in order to combat bad breath, it is necessary not only to brush your teeth conscientiously, but also not to forget about rinsing, about the food you consume, and you should not neglect problems with your teeth and stomach, if any.

Treatment of diseases of the intestines, stomach and teeth should be carried out without delay, since the presence of bacteria in them will only worsen general condition each organ. I hope this is clear and by following all these tips, taking into account the reasons, you can save yourself from the problem in the future.

Halitosis is quite delicate issue, which reduces the quality of life and brings discomfort to a person. Bad breath in adults, the causes and treatment of which are inextricably linked, can be easily eliminated at home. However, in some cases, specialist help will be required.

Why does my breath smell bad?

There are physiological reasons bad smell. So, in the morning, everyone can feel it, because during the night saliva did not have time to clean the oral cavity, because during sleep its production slows down. Halitosis is common in older people. The fact is that with age, the amount of saliva produced decreases.

Sometimes, under the influence of medications taken, the composition of saliva changes, its properties deteriorate, and it begins to be produced to a lesser extent. Dry mouth causes a foul odor, because it is saliva that maintains a healthy acid-base balance, washes away plaque, which contains many harmful microorganisms, and destroys bacterial cells that cause bad breath.

Dry mouth syndrome can also be caused by other factors:

avitaminosis;
botulism;
radiation damage.

Bad breath can be caused by diet. Fasting triggers a process in which the body begins to consume stored fats. When they decompose, ketones are produced and cause a sweet or sour odor. In this case, fresh breath will return only after leaving the diet. The same goes for overeating and poor personal oral hygiene. After a hearty lunch or dinner, pieces of stuck food begin to rot, causing a disgusting smell.

Bad odors from some foods can last up to 24 hours. These include:

spicy seasonings;
onions and garlic;
herring and canned food;
carbonated drinks;
spicy meat products;
alcohol and coffee;
dairy products;
horseradish;

This food contributes to the formation of plaque, and as it penetrates the digestive system, compounds are formed that disrupt the acid-base balance in the mouth. At the same time, bacteria actively multiply.

Types of unpleasant odor

Depending on the severity and frequency of halitosis, there are three types:

True. People around you clearly notice the unpleasant odor. Reasons may be physiological characteristics, development of pathologies of internal organs, diseases of teeth and gums.
Pseudohalitosis. The breath with it is not entirely fresh and is felt only when in close contact with a person. Usually this problem occurs due to violations of personal hygiene rules and the consumption of certain foods.
Halitophobia. The adult has no obvious problems, his breath does not smell at all, but he is convinced of the opposite. The psychological factor plays a big role here.

The nature of the smell can indicate specific pathologies, namely:

Rotten talks about dental problems.
Putrid is a consequence of a purulent process in the respiratory tract or the development of intestinal dysbiosis. This often occurs in people who abuse alcohol. Putrid smell is felt when the walls of the esophagus decompose, if there is a malignant tumor.
The breath of those who suffer from diabetes or kidney disease smells like acetone.
A slight odor that appears when exhaling or during coughing indicates lung disease.
Bitterness in the mouth and yellow tongue talk about problems in the functioning of the gallbladder.
A sour smell is characteristic of people suffering from pancreatitis and diabetes.
A bitter and pungent taste indicates problems with the pancreas.
Rottenness indicates the development of chronic gastritis.
The smell of ammonia is a consequence of chronic renal failure.

To understand how your breath actually smells, you can use a regular spoon. You need to turn it over and run it across your tongue so that a little plaque or saliva remains on the spoon. The smell emanating from them indicates the quality of their breath.

Causes of true halitosis

The causes of bad breath in adults can be various factors. Often the problem is associated with a person’s oral cavity; he may experience:

carious cavities;
tartar;
large accumulation of plaque;
the presence of crowns, braces, plates;
diseases of the tongue and gums;
decreased saliva viscosity;
stomatitis and other inflammations of the mucous membrane.

Halitosis can be a symptom of diseases such as:

respiratory infection (gangrene, tuberculosis, lung abscess, bronchiectasis);
renal failure;
kidney diseases (nephrosis, cystitis, pyelonephritis);
diabetes mellitus;
gastrointestinal pathologies (gastritis, colitis, ulcers);
diseases of the liver and biliary tract (cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, hepatitis, cirrhosis);
diseases of the ENT organs (sinusitis, otitis media, sinusitis);
disruption of the endocrine system (imbalance of sex hormones affects the properties of saliva);
Sjogren's disease (decreased secretion of the salivary glands).

In almost half of the cases, the cause of halitosis in adults is an unhealthy liver and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. The saddest cause of bad breath can be cancer of the stomach or esophagus. There is no need to rush to diagnose any disease in yourself if there is no fresh breath. After all, this situation occurs periodically in every person.

The appearance of a foul odor may be due to constant constipation, flu and menstruation, non-compliance with personal hygiene rules. When smoking a cigarette in the mouth, the process of cleansing the mucous membrane is disrupted. At the same time, the amount of oxygen released decreases and microorganisms begin to multiply. This bad habit also causes the formation of tartar and the development of gum inflammation. The presence of dentures and plates provokes the development of halitosis. It manifests itself especially strongly in the case of poor care of the surface of the dentures. After all, many bacteria multiply here, which create a bad smell.

Anti-odor medicine

To eliminate bad breath in an adult, you must first identify the cause of its occurrence. Sudden onset halitosis may be a consequence of the development of a serious pathology. Therefore, you need to conduct an examination of the body, get advice from specialists and start therapy as quickly as possible.

First of all, dental problems should be eliminated and dentures replaced with new ones, if necessary. You may need dental fillings to prevent caries, tooth extraction, or treatment for gum disease. The doctor usually prescribes a special toothpaste, dental gel and others antibacterial drugs. Sometimes the problem of low salivation needs to be corrected.

If after the procedures the bad breath persists, you should consult a therapist. In case of rotten breath, which is the result of an ulcer or gastritis, you need to visit a gastroenterologist. An endocrinologist will help dispel suspicions of diabetes. The nose should not be stuffy, because forced breathing through the mouth provokes dryness in the oral cavity. Also, in case of rhinitis or sinusitis, you need to visit an ENT doctor, in case of bronchial disease - a pulmonologist, in case diabetes mellitus– endocrinologist.

It is better to remove foods that cause bad breath from your diet. To eliminate halitosis, you can use special deodorizing agents, dental floss, irrigator, and ultrasonic brush.

Self-treatment

For those who prefer treatment at home, traditional methods of combating halitosis are suitable. Below are popular recipes:

For rinsing, you should use an infusion of sorrel. 3 teaspoons of raw material are poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water and left for 2 hours. After this, filter the mixture and rinse your mouth with it.
Strawberry leaves in the amount of 1 tablespoon are poured with 2 cups of boiling water and left for 3-4 hours. You should drink half a glass of the composition every day.
An infusion of wormwood is suitable as a rinse. You need to brew 1 teaspoon of it with a glass of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse 2-3 times a day after meals.
A decoction of sorrel leaves is taken internally. A tablespoon of raw material is poured into 500 ml of water and boiled for 15 minutes. After this, the composition is removed and left for 2 hours. The solution is divided into 4 parts and drunk throughout the day before meals.
The following will help eliminate unpleasant odor: effective remedy. You need to take 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and rinse your mouth with it for 10 minutes. Flaxseed, sea buckthorn, and olive oil are suitable.
You need to brew 2 teaspoons of anise seeds in a glass of boiling water. The composition must be left for 20 minutes and strained. After eating, rinse your mouth and throat thoroughly. This plant has bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects.
You can freshen your breath with berries. Suitable juices include cranberry, sea buckthorn, rosehip, strawberry and raspberry tea.

Any treatment must be accompanied by compliance with the rules of personal hygiene and preventive measures:

After each meal, you need to rinse your mouth with water or a special solution. It is advisable that it does not contain alcohol.
You should brush your teeth twice a day, and don’t forget about your tongue. It is also cleared of plaque.
It is necessary to monitor the cleanliness of dentures, braces, and orthodontic plates.
It's better to get rid of bad habits.
You need to visit the dentist once every six months. You can carry out special hygienic cleaning on it, which will deprive bacteria of the nutrient medium.
You need to drink more water, it helps in the fight against unpleasant odor by promoting the secretion of saliva.
It is better to use personal hygiene products that contain only natural ingredients.
You need to pay attention to your diet. It is better to include more vegetables and fruits in it. It is useful to eat rolled oats; it helps produce saliva.
You can eat 1-2 apples on an empty stomach in the morning, after rinsing your mouth.
To eliminate the smell after eating a product, you need to drink strong, freshly brewed tea.

Do not overuse chewing gums and mouthwashes. They provide only a short-term effect and can sometimes make the problem worse. After all, they kill natural microflora. Instead of chewing gum, it is better to use calamus root, clove seeds, mint, and dill. The use of lollipops and tablets can cause the development of caries, so you should not get carried away with them either.

It is useless to self-treat halitosis if pathology of internal organs develops or there is inflammation in the mouth or dental caries. Such problems will be solved by a doctor who will prescribe complex treatment to eliminate bad breath. The main rule remains giving up bad habits and eating healthy food.