Bad breath is a common problem in summer. It not only affects the health of the sufferers but also impacts their interactions with others. So, how should we treat bad breath?
Causes of Bad Breath
1. Excessive Stress
Excessive psychological stress can affect the functioning of the nervous system and saliva secretion. Normally, a person secretes about 1.5 liters of saliva per day. However, when under excessive stress, the natural "mouth rinse" significantly decreases, resulting in a dirty mouth and the quick production of bad breath.
2. Chronic Constipation
People with chronic constipation may experience bad breath, abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, irritability, and other symptoms due to the accumulation of harmful substances in the body that cannot be eliminated in a timely manner.
3. Regular Medication
Taking medications that reduce saliva production, such as certain sedatives, antihypertensive drugs, atropine, diuretics, and traditional Chinese medicines with warming properties, can easily lead to bad breath.
4. Dieting
Dieting or hormonal imbalances in women during menstruation can also cause bad breath.
Prevention Methods
1. Pay Attention to Oral Hygiene
To prevent and treat bad breath, it is important to pay attention to oral hygiene. Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth thoroughly after waking up, before going to bed, and after meals. If necessary, use a toothbrush or a clean towel to gently scrape off the tongue coating.
2. Eat a Light Diet
Eat a relatively light diet and avoid consuming raw, cold, spicy, odorous (such as garlic, onions, chives, stinky tofu, etc.), and hard-to-digest, greasy (high-protein, high-fat) foods. Chew your food slowly and drink plenty of water. Include vegetables, fruits, and legumes in your diet.
3. Drink Tea
Prepare a decoction of 3g of osmanthus flowers and use it to brew 5g of black tea. Drink this concoction frequently. It has a good effect on treating bad breath.
4. Chew Tea Leaves
Chew a few tea leaves, as they contain tea polyphenols, alkaloids, proteins, amino acids, and vitamins, which can detoxify, relieve alcohol, and effectively eliminate bad breath.
5. Rinse with Salt Water
Saltwater has significant antibacterial properties. Holding saltwater in your mouth for a while can kill bacteria that cause bad breath.
6. Proper Brushing Technique
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush for brushing. Brush your teeth vertically, parallel to the axis of the teeth. This not only helps remove dental plaque and soft deposits but also prevents gum recession, exposed tooth roots, and cervical wedge-shaped defects caused by brushing too hard.
