Bad breath is a common condition in the summer. It not only affects the patient's health but also impacts others, causing embarrassment in social interactions. So how should we treat bad breath?
Causes of Bad Breath
1. Excessive Stress
Excessive mental stress can affect the functioning of the nervous system and the habit of saliva secretion. Normally, a person secretes about 1.5 liters of saliva per day. However, when under excessive stress, the natural "mouthwash" is significantly reduced, resulting in a dirty mouth and the quick development of a foul odor.
2. Chronic Constipation
People with chronic constipation may experience bad breath due to the accumulation of harmful substances in the body, which cannot be eliminated in a timely manner. Other symptoms may include abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, and irritability.
3. Regular Medication
Taking medication that reduces saliva secretion, such as certain sedatives, blood pressure medications, atropine drugs, diuretics, and traditional Chinese medicine with warming properties, can easily lead to bad breath.
4. Dieting
Dieting or hormonal imbalances 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 carefully after waking up, before going to bed, and after meals. If necessary, use a toothbrush or a clean towel to gently brush off the tongue coating.
2. Eat a Light Diet
Maintain a relatively light diet, avoiding raw, spicy, and odorous foods (such as garlic, onions, chives, stinky tofu, etc.), as well as difficult-to-digest and greasy (high protein, high fat) foods. Chew slowly and thoroughly. Drink plenty of water and consume vegetables, fruits, and legumes.
3. Drink Tea
Osmanthus Tea: Boil 3g of osmanthus flowers in water, then brew 5g of black tea in the boiled water. Drink this mixture frequently throughout the day. It is effective in treating bad breath.
4. Chew Tea Leaves
Chewing tea leaves can be effective in detoxifying and eliminating bad breath due to the presence of tea polyphenols, alkaloids, proteins, amino acids, and vitamins in tea leaves.
5. Rinse with Saltwater
Saltwater has significant antibacterial properties. Holding saltwater in your mouth for a moment can kill the bacteria that cause bad breath.
6. Proper Brushing Technique
Choose a soft-bristle toothbrush for brushing, and brush in a vertical motion, with the bristles parallel to the long axis of the teeth. This helps to remove plaque and soft deposits from the teeth and prevents gum recession, exposed tooth roots, and cervical wedge defects.
