What Are the Treatments for Halitosis?

Halitosis is more commonly known as bad breath. For some people, it is a temporary condition caused by eating foods like garlic or onion. For others, it can be a common occurrence caused by several factors such as an infection, smoking and certain health problems. Many simple ways to manage this condition are available to you. If you decide to use any of the natural treatments listed, be sure to talk to your doctor.

Good Oral Hygiene

• The most important and most obvious way to treat bad breath is to maintain good oral hygiene. Brush at least twice a day and be sure to floss daily. Brushing your tongue or using a tongue scraper is important as well to remove any surface bacteria on the tongue. Regular checkups with your dentist can help to detect any problems that might contribute to bad breath. You should also get your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year. Toothpaste made from tea tree oil has strong anti-bacterial properties and is antiseptic.

Halitosis Due to Dry Mouth

• Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is caused by improperly functioning salivary glands. Inadequate salivation causes a build up of bacteria and food particles in the mouth, resulting in bad breath. A dentist will usually prescribe artificial saliva and suggest sucking on sugarless candies and increasing fluid intake.

Halitosis Due to Gum Disease

• Gum disease is a major cause of halitosis. If caught early, a dentist might be able to reverse the damage and eliminate bad breath. If it is in more advanced stages, the only way to treat resulting halitosis is a professional cleaning where the dentist can remove bacteria and plaque lodged deep in the pockets of gum tissue caused by the disease. Many natural treatments have a long history of use for gum health that keep tissue healthy and prevent bad breath. Chamomile tea; prepare one cup of tea and swish half a cup around in the mouth and swallow twice a day. Hawthorn keeps the gum tissue healthy. Take 250 mg three times a day. Tumeric, used extensively in Indian medicine to treat gum problems, helps prevent decay. Place a few drops in one-quarter cup of water and use as a mouthwash; do not swallow.

Halitosis Due to Bacteria

• Bacteria, either on the surface or within the body, contribute to bad breath. H.pylori is the bacteria that causes ulcers and can cause bad breath. Treating the infection is the only way to remedy resulting halitosis. Standard treatment usually requires an antibiotic. Natural treatments are available as well. Cat's claw helps kill H.pylori. Barberry, coptis, goldenseal and Oregon graperoot all contain berberine, a strong antibacterial agent that can kill these bacteria. Choose one and take 500 mg three times daily.

  Denture odor also results in bad breath. Besides cleaning them every day, there are herbal treatments that can kill bacteria that are present in the dentures and make their way into the mouth. Barberry, coptis, goldenseal and Oregon graperoot kill E. coli bacteria, the most common cause of denture odor. It is only necessary to use one of these treatments; take three to four drops of tincture in one-quarter cup mouthwash and use as a mouthwash daily.

Other Suggestions

• Peppermint tea, taken after a meal containing garlic or onions, can treat lingering bad breath. Take one tea bag in one cup of water. Chewing on parsley of fennel seeds can also treat food induced halitosis. Do not eat foods that easily get lodged between the teeth such as meat, stringy vegetables and sweets.