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Halitosis Remedies

After sitting in a lecture for more than an hour, the smell of the mouth becomes foul, kindly suggest some home remedies?
(30 Nov 2008)

Foul breath is medically known as halitosis - for many people, the problem is temporary and does not indicate any underlying health issues, whether minor or major. When the problem is chronic however, it usually has some underlying cause such as inadequate production of saliva, tooth decay, or gum disease. In your case, the problem seems to be somewhat chronic, but does not seem to bother you except when you attend your lectures.


If this is the case, there are a few simple things that you can do to prevent it.

First of all though, you need to get your teeth and gums checked by a dentist. If you are suffering from any dental problems, the first step is to solve them. If you suffer from tooth decay or gum disease, halitosis is probably the least of your worries, as the longer you delay treatment, the worse the problem gets. Extraction of teeth is always to be avoided, but if you wait too long and the deterioration is too much, there is sometimes no other option.

Once tooth and gum problems have been ruled out or solved, you can start looking at another possibility. Probably the main source of bad breath is bacteria that naturally reside on the tongue. These bacteria break down the remnants of food and dead cells that are on the tongue, as well as postnasal drip that trickle down into the oral cavity. The bacterial breakdown of these substances is often the cause of halitosis. When we eat, drink, or talk, these substances are naturally cleared from the tongue to some extent. It is possible that when you attend a lecture, you sit through the entire hour without doing any of these things, allowing the bacteria and other substances to build up and then break down, thus resulting in a foul odor. The obvious solution is to chew gum (if you are allowed to do so and if you like gum) or keep a bottle of water at hand, and sips on it a few times during the lecture. You should also make sure that you drink plenty of water in general, to keep your body hydrated.

Maintaining good oral hygiene in general will also help - brush, floss, and gargle twice a day, and make sure that you clean your tongue as well, either with your toothbrush or with a tongue cleaner. You should also try using an antibacterial mouthwash, which will also contribute to reducing the bacteria in your mouth.

answered by G R on 30 Nov 2008, 2:15:27

 

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