Bad Breath: Remedies

Bad Breath: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

The majority of the time, the origin is in the mouth. Examples include gum disease, dental cavities, coated tongue (sometimes a white or yellow layer blankets the tongue, usually due to inflammation), and poor oral hygiene. Smokers have bad breath. Food and drink, such as onions, garlic, coffee, and alcohol, can temporarily taint breath.

Advanced age, stress, depression, mouth breathing, alcohol abuse, certain medications, diabetes, and Sjögren syndrome (an autoimmune disease wherein white blood cells attack glands that make saliva and tears) diminish saliva. In addition, malnutrition contributes to overall ill health and bad breath. Uncontrolled diabetes also creates disturbances in oral health. Such infections as sore throat and sinusitis cause halitosis. So do stomach and intestinal disorders, such as heartburn, stomach inflammation and ulcers, and lactose intolerance. Treatment involves correcting the underlying disorder.

FRESHEN UP

You’re on a big date and have had a dinner rich in garlic. Pop a sprig of parsley or other garnish in your mouth and pucker up.

FRESH SPRIG OF PARSLEY, BASIL, MINT, OR CILANTRO

Preparation and use: Place a sprig of any of these leaves in your mouth, chew, and swallow. All green plants contain chlorophyll, which neutralizes odors. Also, aromatic herbs contain essential oils that freshen breath.

LEMON BREATH LIFT

Lemon and pomegranate taste and smell fresh.

1 cup (235 ml) water

2 tablespoons (28 ml) fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon (15 ml) pomegranate juice

1 packet (1 g) stevia, or to taste

Preparation and use: Pour the water and pomegranate juice into a glass and stir in the lemon juice. Add the stevia. Drink in the morning (after your daily cuppa joe). Lemon contains essential oils that create the characteristic zesty (or citrus) scent. It’s long been used to reduce unpleasant odors. Both lemon and pomegranate contain flavonoids that help strengthen connective tissues, such as those in the gums. Pomegranate also has a mild antibacterial effect.

CITRUS FRESH BREATH

The rind tastes bitter at first bite, but chewing it gives your mouth a natural, refreshing zing.

1 organic lemon or orange

Preparation and use: Wash the rind thoroughly and tear off a piece. Chew for a flavorful, mouth-freshening burst. Citric acid will stimulate the salivary glands to create saliva, which is a natural breath freshener.

MINTY MOUTH-FRESHENING TEA

2 tablespoons (12 g) loose green tea, or

2 tea bags

1 teaspoon (2 g) crushed fresh mint leaves

1 cinnamon stick

2 cups (475 ml) boiled water

Preparation and use: Add the tea, mint leaves, and cinnamon to the boiled water. Steep for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags, if using, and strain out the herbs. Sip and enjoy! Green tea has antibacterial compounds. Cinnamon is antimicrobial and aromatic. The oils in mint fight mouth bacteria that cause halitosis.

CRUNCH IT

1 cup (150 g) apple chunks

1 cup (110 g) grated carrot

1 cup (120 g) diced celery

½ cup (60 g) dried cranberries

½ cup (60 g) crushed walnuts

3 to 5 tablespoons (45 to 75 g) plain non-fat yogurt

Ground cinnamon

Preparation and use: Mix the apple, carrot, celery, cranberries, and walnuts together in a large bowl. Add the yogurt by the tablespoon (15 g) to moisten the mixture and hold it together slightly. Divide between two plates, sprinkle with cinnamon, and serve. Raw, crunchy foods clean the teeth. Apples contain pectin, which helps control food odors. It also promotes saliva, which cleanses breath. Cinnamon is antimicrobial. Yogurt contains the type of bacteria you want in your intestinal tract. Studies show that the active bacteria and cultures in yogurt help reduce odor-causing bacteria in the mouth.

TONGUE SCRAPE

A coated tongue is a prominent factor behind bad breath. Although you can use a toothbrush, a tongue scraper works better. You can buy one at most pharmacies. In a pinch, use a spoon. The coating on the tongue contains some mixture of dead tongue cells, bacteria, and fungi that become trapped between the small projections (papillae) on the tongue’s surface. Daily tongue scraping and brushing decreases this material carpeting the tongue and improves mouth odor.

PEROXIDE SWISH

Hydrogen peroxide is a versatile cleansing agent, in the right doses. Be sure to cut it with water before using.

2 tablespoons (30 ml) hydrogen peroxide

2 tablespoons (30 ml) water

Preparation and Use: Mix the hydrogen peroxide and water in a clean glass. Swish in your mouth for 30 seconds and then spit out. Rinse twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Hydrogen peroxide’s oxygen content kills the bacteria in your mouth that cause bad breath.

MOUTHWASH IN A MINUTE

We love the fresh and natural taste of this mouthwash—and it’s alcohol-free, unlike so many off-the shelf products. Do not swallow it!

1 cup (235 ml) water

1 teaspoon (5 g) baking soda

3 drops peppermint essential oil

Preparation and use: Mix together all the ingredients. Pour into a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, cap, and shake. Use a small amount to rinse your mouth for about 30 seconds. Spit out—do not swallow. Peppermint is antimicrobial. Baking soda changes the pH (acid) levels in the mouth, creating an anti-odor environment.

YOGURT BREATH BLASTER

1 cup (230 g) vanilla yogurt

1 cup (170 g) sliced strawberries

¼ cup (30 g) chopped walnuts

Sprigs of mint

Preparation and use: Combine the yogurt, strawberries, and walnuts in a small bowl. Top with mint sprigs and serve. Studies say that yogurt’s active bacteria may help control the mouth bacteria that release malodorous chemicals, such as hydrogen sulphide.

FRESH CHEW

Handful of fennel seeds, cloves, or anise seeds

Preparation and use: Pop your spice of choice into your mouth. Chew the seeds, savoring the release of their fresh and spicy, odor-fighting tastes. These spices all have antiseptic qualities that help fight halitosis-causing bacteria and sweeten your breath.

LIFESTYLE TIP

·         If you wear dentures, remove them at night and clean them before returning them to your mouth. Removing daily bacterial build-up day from food and drink helps keep your breath fresh.

·         Quit smoking to reduce bad breath, which is the least of your problems if you are a smoker. It’s a tough habit to kick, but worth the effort.

·         When nothing else is available, swish fresh, cool water around in your mouth. Water freshens breath and makes you feel better in general.

·         Practice good oral health regularly:

1.              Brush your teeth after every meal.

2.              Be gentle on your gums.

3.              Floss at least once a day, preferably twice, before you brush.

4.              If you can’t brush after a meal, drink water, swish, and spit to remove residual food particles.

5.              Replace your toothbrush every two to three months.

6.              Keep up with regular dental check-ups, including cleanings.

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR

•         Halitosis persists despite improved oral hygiene.

•         You notice your tongue often looks coated.

•         Your mouth is often dry.

•         You have sores in your mouth, painful gums, or tooth pain (for example, when drinking cold liquids or chewing).

•         You have diabetes or another chronic condition and notice a change in your breath.

•         You feel ill. (Infection of the tongue, throat, and gums, oral cancer, and many other illnesses affect the breath.)

Allergic Skin Reactions

Allergic Skin Reactions: Home Remedies

The skin is the body’s largest organ. A number of things can trigger local skin inflammation, or dermatitis, in sensitive people. In contact dermatitis, the offending agents come into direct contact with the skin. Examples include poison ivy, nickel jewelry, sheep’s lanolin, topical antibiotics, and ingredients in detergents and body-care products. Radiation administered to cancer patients can also cause dermatitis.

Some people have eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, a condition that tends to run in families, along with hay fever and asthma. Affected patches of skin are red, itchy, scaly, and thickened, and in some cases oozing and crusty. Allergens that provoke the inflammation may be difficult or impossible to identify. Hives is another skin condition often caused by an allergic reaction. Red, raised itchy patches of skin appear suddenly and may disappear as quickly as they came. Caused by a release of histamine in response to an allergen, hives can be triggered by just about anything—food, sun, dust mites, stress, medication, and more.

Treatment for any of these conditions depends upon the underlying cause. If your watch’s nickel backing left a red, crusty patch on your wrist, you’ll need to replace it. If you’re allergic to the antibiotic you’re taking, you may need to switch medications and remember to never take that antibiotic again (as the reaction could be more severe next time around). If you’re allergic to bee venom and are stung, you’ll need an epinephrine injection. If you are prone to hives, a simple antihistamine can often calm the allergic reaction. If you have eczema, your doctor will probably advise switching to hypoallergenic personal care products and laundry detergent, keeping your skin hydrated, and prescription anti-inflammatory creams for flare-ups.

History

In ancient China, healers considered eczema “asthma of the skin,” as many who suffered skin outbreaks also suffered asthma. Allergies were treated through acupuncture, herbs, and most important, by modifying the diet to increase foods that cool the body (fresh fruits and vegetables and green tea) and to reduce foods that heat the body (pumpkin, squash, onion, garlic, chilies, and ginger). In India, healers saw dermatitis as a mild form of leprosy and balanced three treatments: reducing stress, abstaining from dairy and fish, and using massage to increase circulation. Many of these treatments are still in use today.

SALAD DRESSING TO FOIL INFLAMMATION

1 part olive oil

1 part flaxseed oil

1 part balsamic vinegar

1 part apple cider vinegar

Preparation and Use: Combine all the ingredients in a dressing shaker and shake vigorously ten times. Pour over salad and toss. You may think that eating oil will cause your skin to break out; in fact, oil is an anti-inflammatory. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are especially effective in retarding inflammatory reactions in cells.

COLLOIDAL OATMEAL BATH

2 to 3 cups (160 to 240 g) regular or colloidal oats

Preparation and Use: If using regular oats, pour them into a food processor, coffee grinder, or blender and blend to a powder. This turns them into colloidal oats. Pour the oats into warm, running bathwater. Disperse oats with your hand. (Alternatively, pour the oats into a sock, bag, or bandana to contain the particles and help with clean-up and place the sock in the bathwater.) Climb in and soak for at least 15 minutes. (Avoid using soap, which only dries and further irritates the skin.) After leaving the bath, pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Oats have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Applied topically, oats moisturize the skin and decrease itching. The gooeyness you feel when you squeeze the sock is caused by the complex carbohydrates in the oats.

Note: You can make a large batch of colloidal oats and store in a tightly sealed jar or tin in a cool, dry place.

AFTER BATH NATURAL MOISTURIZER

¼ cup (55 ml) Aloe Vera gel

¼ cup (60 ml) high-quality oil (olive, almond, coconut, apricot, or grapeseed)

12 drops German chamomile essential oil

Preparation and Use: In a clean bowl, whisk together the aloe gel and oil. Blend in the German chamomile oil. Immediately after bathing or showering, while your skin is still damp, apply a generous amount to your skin with clean fingers. Allow a couple of minutes for the moisturizer to absorb before getting dressed.

•         Aloe Vera gel is anti-inflammatory, soothing, and hydrating. Lab studies indicate that aloe can promote healing and may reduce inflammation in eczema.

•         German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) has chemicals that reduce inflammation and allergies. More specifically, the flavonoids quercetin and apigenin inhibit the release of histamine from immune cells called mast cells. Lab studies indicate that it improves eczemalike skin conditions. Essential oil of chamomile looks blue, due to a potent anti-inflammatory chemical called chamazulene.

Note: Store leftover moisturizer in a clean, dry jar and throw it away after two weeks when it’s time for a fresh recipe.

SOOTHING OAT PASTE

1 tablespoon (5 g) colloidal oatmeal

1 teaspoon (5 g) baking soda

Drops of water, as needed

Preparation and Use: In a small bowl, stir together the colloidal oatmeal and baking soda until blended. Gradually add just enough water to form a paste. Apply to irritated areas with clean fingers. Once dry, rinse it off with warm water. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in oatmeal relieve itching. Baking soda neutralizes the acids that promote itchy skin.

POISON IVY (OR OAK) POTION

1 part calamine lotion

1 part Aloe Vera gel

Preparation and Use: Mix the lotion and aloe gel in a clean bowl. Apply to affected areas with clean fingers, cotton swabs, or cotton balls. Allow the mixture to dry and then rinse off. The zinc oxide and ferric oxide in calamine lotion are antipruritic, or anti-itch, agents. Aloe Vera gel feels cool and adds anti-inflammatory relief. This is an effective, time-honoured recipe for the rash caused by poison ivy and poison oak.

JEWELWEED RUB

1 quart (946 ml) water (or more if you have lots of jewelweed)

Armful of jewelweed

Preparation and Use: Bring the water to a boil in a big pot. Turn off the heat. Put the jewelweed in the pot, cover it, and let it steep for at least 30 minutes. Pour the mixture (a deep brown tea) into a gallon jar or into ice cube trays and freeze. Rub on the poison ivy rash as soon as you experience the first signs of itching. Urushiol, an oily resin in the sap of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, causes an allergic reaction in those who are sensitive to it. Jewelweed has strong anti-inflammatory properties. It acts on urushiol to relieve the itching and blisters and halt the spread of the rash.

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is a tall, stemmed plant with orange and yellow trumpet-shaped flowers, usually found growing wild near streams and in deep shade in the woods. My family keeps a batch of this handy during poison ivy season. (Jewelweed can sometimes be found at nurseries, but don’t confuse it with the shade-tolerant garden annual Impatiens walleriana, also known as “Busy Lizzy.” That one will not help your poison ivy.) ~ BHS

SCALP THERAPY OIL

½ cup (120 ml) olive or vegetable oil

3 drops lavender essential oil

Preparation and Use: Before bedtime, warm the oil in a saucepan until it feels soothing to the touch. Apply to your scalp. Put an old cloth or towel over your pillow and sleep. In the morning, use a mild shampoo to wash away the remaining oil. This natural moisturizer soothes the affected scalp.

SAGE SKIN WASH

1 cup (235 ml) water

1 tablespoon (2 g) dried sage

Preparation and Use: In a small pot, bring the water to a boil and then pour into a cup. Add the dried sage, cover, and let steep for at least 15 minutes. Strain and allow to cool to room temperature. Apply to the affected area with a clean cloth.

Allow the skin to dry before getting dressed. Do not rinse off the sage mixture. In a 2011 study in Japan, researchers used sage and rosemary, among other herbal extracts, on dermatitis lesions on mice and found that repeated applications significantly healed the skin lesions.

FACT OR MYTH?

Stress can aggravate eczema. Yes! To help counteract a breakout and increasing irritation, take a long walk, bike, or swim; do the Stress Less exercise (see page 119) in a quiet room; or meditate.

All chamomiles have the same healing properties. No! Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is a different species and chemically distinct. Although it has benefits of its own, it lacks German chamomile’s anti-inflammatory impact.

LIFESTYLE TIP

For an extra jolt of good-for-you oils, never consume cod liver oil. It contains too much vitamin A for your system and can even cause a bleeding disorder. Instead, opt for other sources of healthy oils. Add walnuts and avocados to salad. Add hemp seeds to cereal and smoothies. Eat oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines, etc.) at least once a week. Or take a daily EPA/DHA capsule.

Brew a fresh pot of coffee and take a handful of the wet grounds. Rubbing them on your hands will soothe them and relieve inflammation.

WHEN SIMPLE DOESN’T WORK

Consult with your family physician for stronger over-the-counter or prescription medications.

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR

You develop a rash around your eyes, mouth, genitals, or over much of your body from poison ivy or poison oak.

Skin inflammation worsens or becomes infected, as evidenced by increased redness, heat, and pus.

Fever or other signs of more serious illness accompany skin inflammation.

Treating Sleep Disorder

How to deal with Sleep Disorder?

Most people don’t recognize the potential adverse effects on personal health and public safety. They struggle through the day, unaware that sleeping more might erase their persistent fatigue and malaise. It doesn’t help that relatively few doctors ask their patients about the quality and quantity of their sleep.

Many people also cling to the myth that they can train themselves to get by on less sleep or to work at night and sleep by day. Not so. The brain tightly orchestrates our sleep-wake cycle, as well as other daily, or circadian, rhythms. Humans are diurnal. Light syncs our nervous and hormonal systems. Few of us can fully adapt to working the night shift. The perils of sleep deprivation are serious and include the following:

1.                Excessive daytime sleepiness (your main warning sign you’re not getting enough sleep)

2.                Impaired mental function—spotty attention, concentration, memory, and alertness

3.                Impaired physical function—clumsiness, diminished reaction times, and diminished agility

4.                Accidents—due to impaired mental and physical function and falling asleep during a task

5.                Inability to deal with stress and a sleep deprivation- induced rise in stress hormones

6.                More pain, including tension headaches

7.                More inflammation, which can aggravate inflammatory conditions, such as asthma and arthritis

8.                Flagging social skills

9.                Irritability

10.          Increased risk of work burnout, depression, and anxiety

11.          Reduced alcohol tolerance (plus, sleep deprivation can impair your skills on par with alcohol intoxication)

12.          Weight gain (due to hormonal shifts and changes in behaviour)

13.          Poor blood sugar control; increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease

14.          Diminished quality of life what can you do to feel more rested?

Make sure you allow plenty of time to sleep. Keep in mind that it often takes 15 to 30 minutes to fall asleep. If you need 8 hours of sleep to feel good, allow yourself at least 8.5 hours in bed. Otherwise adopt what’s known as good “sleep hygiene.” This sort of housekeeping entails the following practices:

a.                      Establish regular hours to go to bed and wake up—seven days a week.

b.                     Keep naptimes short (no more than 30 minutes) and limit them to once a day.

c.                      Exercise daily, but avoid vigorous late-night exercise (stretching is fine).

d.                     Eat a light dinner, but consider a bedtime snack if you notice low blood sugar jolts you awake in the night.

e.                      Avoid excessive amounts of alcohol and stop drinking entirely within a few hours of bedtime. (Alcohol may make it easier to fall asleep, but disrupts sleep later in the night.)

f.                       Skip caffeine in the late afternoon and evening. (It takes an average of five hours to clear half of the caffeine from the blood.)

g.                     Nix the nicotine. (It’s a central nervous system stimulant.)

h.                     Use your bed only for sleep and sex (no working, bill-paying, or arguing).

i.                       Create a cosy sleep environment—quiet room, comfortable mattress, good pillows, enough covers to keep you warm but not sweaty, shades to block street lights and dark cloths over digital clocks, charging electronic devices, LED lights.

j.                       Establish a soothing bedtime routine (a warm bath, candlelight, music, pleasure reading, stretching, breathing exercises, meditation, or prayer).

If you feel irresistibly sleepy during the day, close your eyes. Research shows that power naps improve productivity. If you can’t, exercise briefly. A brisk walk outdoors can temporarily refresh you. Inhale a plant essential oil that’s associated with brain alertness, such as peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon, or rosemary. Caffeine definitely increases alertness. Choose beverages that naturally contain caffeine (green tea, black tea, or coffee), rather than sodas or energy drinks. To avoid insomnia, resist consuming them in the late afternoon or evening and also refrain from adding sugar to them. More sensitive people have to curtail caffeine intake after lunch.