Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is something that affects about 25% of the world’s population. Anybody can have bad breath, and it is the third most common reason people seek dental care, after gum disease and tooth decay. While poor dental hygiene can contribute to the problem, bad breath can often be caused by poor gastrointestinal health.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Bad breath can be caused by a number of things, including poor dental hygiene, unhealthy diet, or smoking tobacco. If you do not regularly brush or floss your teeth, food particles can become trapped in your teeth and mouth. There are bacteria that break down the food in your mouth. The combination of decaying food and bacteria can create a foul odor. If you eat an unhealthy diet comprised of a lot of processed foods, it can wreak havoc on your digestive system. Poor gastrointestinal health, or built up waste in the digestive tract or colon, can cause the foul odor in the mouth. Common causes of bad breath are:
- Poor dental hygiene
- Unhealthy diet (comprised of processed foods, fried foods, meats, or strong foods like garlic and onion)
- Smoking cigarettes
- Dry mouth
- Periodontal disease (plaque build-up or tartar)
- Sinus or throat conditions (sinus infection, Bronchitis, or respiratory infection)
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Gastroesophageal Reflex Disorder (GERD)
Natural Remedies
Make Sure You Are Brushing
While poor dental hygiene, which may cause gum disease, tooth decay, and plaque, can contribute to bad breath, your gut is usually the root cause. Nevertheless, brush your tongue with an all-natural toothpaste and floss between your teeth, as your tongue and tooth gaps can harbor excess bacteria.
Get Your Chew On
Chewing on certain sticks and twigs, such as miswak, licorice, and neem, can provide temporary relief for bad breath. These sticks and twigs are antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, and antibiotic.
Peelu Tooth Fibers
Peelu tooth fibers (sold at health food stores) can help to remove plaque from the teeth (enamel). Use of these fibers may also help to freshen the breath and kill negative (or harmful) bacteria in the mouth.
Cardamom
Chewing on raw pieces of cardamom, clove, cinnamon and/or nutmeg can help freshen the breath and fight oral bacterial conditions.
Cleanse Your Colon
Cleansing the colon and your other eliminative channels can also help treat bad breath. Colonics and enemas are also great methods and procedures for cleansing the colon and rectum. Colonics can be performed every three to six months and enemas can be performed on a more regular basis, i.e. weekly or bi-weekly.
