Mintier Oil-Based Breath Mint - 30ml

Halitosis
By: Naturopathic Doctor (N.D.)

Embarrassing either when you have it or when someone else has it, bad breath can be a sign of poor digestion or toxicity in the body...

Bad breath is not a disease but it is the source of social stigma. If chronic, it can indicate an underlying medical problem and should be assessed by a health professional. The most common causes of halitosis are: poor dental hygiene, poor digestion, and the accumulation of toxins in the body.

Other causes are heavy metal toxicity, respiratory infections, salivary disorders, liver disease, kidney disease, indigestion, constipation, smoking, dieting, fever and stress.

Natural treatment of halitosis involves supporting digestion so that toxins do not build up in the gastrointestinal tract. It also involves cleansing toxins from the liver and kidneys so that the body does not have to use the breath to carry toxins out of the body. In particular, toxins in the colon and small intestine can be reabsorbed and cause an odour in the mouth. Consider doing a good colon cleanse (or tell someone you know!). Also consider doing a liver cleanse with herbs like milk thistle and dandelion. Chlorophyll is an important detoxifier, as it will help clean toxins from a variety of organs and tissues in the body. See the section on detoxification for more information on cleansing.

To help reduce bad breath, brush your teeth and tongue after every meal. Replace your toothbrush monthly. Every day, use a tongue scraper to remove dead cells and food debris from the tongue, rinse the mouth with Chlorophyll and floss the teeth. Do not use commercial mouthwash because the mouth becomes colonized with bacteria that are resistant to the antibacterial activity of the mouthwash. Mouthwashes can also irritate the tissue in the mouth.

If you are experiencing bad breath, it could be the result of poor digestion. Food that is only partially digested starts to ferment in the gut and releases unpleasant odours. Enzymes and probiotics can be taken to naturally improve bad breath that is caused by poor digestion. There are complete enzyme formulas that are safe and especially effective when taken with a probiotic/acidophilus supplement. Probiotics can be used in the mouth as well with the use of a chewable probiotic lozenge. They are convenient and especially effective when taken with every meal.

Use chewing gum, mints, toothpaste and mouthwash that contain xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar that promotes the growth of bacteria that cause less tooth decay than the bacteria that are commonly found in the mouth. Rinse the mouth with diluted essential oils of anise, cloves, myrrh, parsley, peppermint or rosemary to reduce halitosis.

Dietary considerations for halitosis include drinking lots of filtered water and eating a diet high in raw foods, fibre and plant protein. Eat raw crunchy foods, like apples and carrots, to clean the teeth as you chew. Fibre promotes bowel regularity for toxin removal.

By reducing the consumption of animal proteins one can reduce the amount of digestion by-products that are used by microbes to produce odour. Avoid spicy foods, tuna, salami, pepperoni, pastrami, anchovies, garlic, onions, blue cheese, beer, coffee, whisky and wine. These foods release odours for hours after consuming them. Also avoid sticky and stringy foods that can get stuck between the teeth.

What you can do to help maintain Halitosis:
- Ensure proper digestion with enzymes
- Detoxify your body
- Support the health of your intestines with acidophilus
- Eat plenty of vegetables
- Don't drink coffee; it depletes nutrients and makes the breath smell
- Parsley can help sweeten your breath naturally
- Use good toothpaste; one with tea tree oil is particularly effective
- Ensure good dental hygiene; use a good toothbrush, and floss