Bad Breath (Halitosis)
The health of your mouth, teeth, gums and oral cavity have a profound impact on the health of your entire body. Diet, immune system, genetics, inflammation, microbial balance, nutrition, and methylation all interact and affect oral health. Although anyone can experience occasional bad breath aka halitosis, chronic bad breath and body odor are symptoms of an imbalance in the body and may be a warning sign of a deeper underlying health problem. Bad breath can be embarrassing and those that suffer with chronic bad breath are usually unaware of how pungent their breath really is.
Chewing gum and sucking on breath mints will not address the root cause of bad breath. Bad breath can be an indication of an oral health problem such as an infection, a problem in the gut (very common and often the case), poor lifestyle choices, and unhealthy habits.
Root Cause of Bad Breath
The key factor to eliminating bad breath (and body odor) is to identify the root cause!
Digestive
- Digestion insufficiency (carbohydrate fermentation and protein putrefication due to HCL insufficiency) as a result of hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) or achlorhydria (zero stomach acid).
- Bacteria imbalances in the colon
- Acid reflux (a sign of poor digestion and malnourishment)
- Poor protein digestion resulting in proteins that putrefy in the gut
- Pancreatic deficiency
Infections, Leaky Gut, Disease and Toxic Overload
- Chronic sinus infections or sinusitis can cause rancid smelling breath (90% of all sinus infections are fungal related)
- Problems in the mouth such as tooth decay, gum disease, tonsillitis, hidden dental infections, cavitations, gingivitis and periodontal disease
- Root canaled teeth. Leaky infected root canals cause inflammation and infections, contributing to bad breath. It was Weston A. Price, DDS who became suspicious that root-canaled teeth always remained infected, in spite of treatments. Root-canaled teeth are essentially “dead” teeth that can become silent incubators for highly toxic anaerobic bacteria that can, under certain conditions, make their way into your bloodstream to cause a number of serious medical conditions—many not appearing until decades later causing chronic degenerative and neurological diseases.
- Liver congestion or liver disease
- Respiratory infections
- Leaky gut
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Rule out heavy metal toxicity, Candida overgrowth, H. pylori, SIBO and other underlying infections and bacteria imbalances that contribute to bad breath
► Lifestyle factors linked to bad breath
- Poor dental hygiene (one of the many risk factors of heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease is poor dental health).
- Constipation
- Dehydration
- Sugar, starchy foods and carb-heavy diets
- Obesity
- OTC and prescription medications (antidepressants, diuretics and even aspirin) can cause dry mouth, which is a direct cause of bad breath.
- Stress, fatigue and adrenal dysfunction
- Extreme dieting and fasting
- Higher protein intake, especially when combined with an inability to digest protein
- Ketosis
- Food intolerances and food sensitivities
- Mouth breathing, which can cause dry mouth and bad breath
- Tobacco, coffee and alcohol use
- CoQ10, zinc or magnesium deficiency
“Periodontal diseases can predispose individuals to several systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, oral and colorectal cancer, GI diseases, respiratory tract infections and pneumonia, adverse pregnancy outcomes, diabetes, insulin resistance, and Alzheimer’s disease. [Biomed J. 2019 Feb]
Natural Remedies for Bad Breath, Whiter Teeth & Healthy Gums
Food as Medicine for Healthy Gums and Fresh Breath
- Fresh organic celery, parsley, spinach, watercress, fennel, carrot, cucumber, lemon and lime
- Drink a cup of water with the juice from a fresh lemon or lime upon rising
- Chlorophyll-rich herbs and foods: parsley, cilantro, basil and an abundance and assortment of leafy greens, plants and vegetables
- Include more fermented foods such as homemade sauerkraut
- Herbs: chew fennel, cardamom or anise seeds, which contain cineole, a potent antiseptic that destroys bacteria
- Before meals drink a mixture of one tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar in a small amount of water with a pinch of cinnamon or ginger
- Sip on tea: Pau d ‘Arco tea, fennel tea, peppermint, bergamot, black, white and green tea. The polyphenols in tea help prevent growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath.
- Chew food thoroughly to activate enzyme activity.
- Chew a sprig of fresh parsley, a fresh piece of ginger root, fresh wedge of lemon or lime after meals.
- Drink generous amounts of clean, filtered water every day. Add a pinch of Redmond’s salt, cinnamon or ginger to the water, fresh rosemary or mint leaves.
- Items such as curry, garlic, onions, hot peppers, meat, tuna and strong cheeses may contribute to bad breath that can last for 24 hours.
- Avoid sugar, starchy foods, seed oils, and processed foods – a fuel source for bacteria that directly causes bad breath.
Lifestyle Tips for Whiter Teeth, Healthier Gums and Fresh Breath
- Keep your teeth and gums healthy by consistently practicing good oral hygiene. Hundreds of bacteria reside in the mouth.
- Brush your teeth, gums and your tongue (two to three times daily) especially after meals and before bedtime.
- Floss gently. Daily flossing is crucial as it disrupts invisible microbial biofilms.
- Use only non-fluoride toothpaste. Other options include sea salt and baking soda
- Brush gum area softly and lightly with a few drops of liquid iodine forte (helpful for bacteria)
- Use the tongue scraper and brush your tongue back to front with baking soda before bedtime.
- Disinfect your toothbrush and tongue scraper periodically with hydrogen peroxide.
- Replace your toothbrush every month.
- Invest in an electric toothbrush and a waterpik or hydroflosser to keep gums healthy, reduce tartar and plaque buildup
- Avoid commercial mouthwash as most contain alcohol, flavorings, chemicals, colors and dyes.
- DIY homemade mouthwash: add a couple drops of clove oil, or peppermint oil to a bottle of food-grade hydrogen peroxide
- Consider oil pulling with coconut oil (effective for reducing plaque, bacterial and halitosis). Oil pulling has been used extensively for many years as a traditional Indian folk remedy to prevent teeth decay, bad breath, bleeding gums, dryness of throat and cracked lips, and for strengthening the teeth and gums.
- Rule out underlying bacterial, fungal, yeast, H.pylori and Candida overgrowth infections, and hidden dental infections
- Schedule regular dental checkups. Consider a ‘cone beam’ x-ray to detect hidden infections in the mouth and jaw
Nutrients for Fresh Breath
- Support for digestion: digestive enzymes with HCL and probiotics are the two primary supplements for those experiencing chronic halitosis, a healthy microbiota and balanced bowel flora.
- Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin D, important for overall health and dental health
- Probiotics, soil-based sporebiotics
- Grapeseed extract, helpful for gum disease prevention
- CoQ10, research has shown that CoQ10 keeps the cells of your mouth and gums healthy
- Determine zinc status and restore with zinc supplementation, if deficient
- Magnesium
Keeping your digestive system healthy, addressing leaky gut, ruling out infections and optimizing digestion is the key to eliminating bad breath. If a bacterial imbalance, Candida overgrowth, yeast or fungal infection is your problem, the appropriate dietary, lifestyle and supplemental support must be followed.
If bad breath persists after making the above changes, see your dentist or periodontist.
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