Bad breath (Halitosis)

Bad breath is a problem few can admit and even fewer will point out. It's especially difficult to detect since a person can't smell his or her own breath. Bad breath (medically termed halitosis) is a common problem faced by a large number of people these days. The problem can turn out to be quite depressing and embarrassing at times to the afflicted person as well as the people around. Treatment of bad breath should be aimed at eliminating the root cause of the problem rather than adopting camouflaging measures such as mouth fresheners, mouthwashes etc.

Causes

Causes may be local or systemic. The local causes related to halitosis include wearing dentures or partial dentures, faulty dental fillings, drifted, moved or extruded teeth, gingivitis, gum or tooth abscesses, oral cancer and xerostomia or dry mouth. 

The human being has over 400 species of different types of bacteria in the mouth of which about fourteen of them, mainly anaerobic bacteria, cause bad breath by releasing sulfur odors. Halitosis is caused by volatile sulfur compounds (VSC – mainly hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan), which are released by the break down of proteins by bacteria. These sulfur compounds are odorous and lousy tasting. Bad breath mostly comes from the back of the tongue, not the stomach or teeth. Most of the odor contributing to bad-breath is produced by anaerobic bacteria, which grow on the back of the tongue. Tongue cleaning reduces mouth odor by 75 percent. The anaerobic bacteria have beneficial effects also as they aid in digestion by breaking down proteins. Persons suffering from badbreath due to oral causes are found to have abnormally high numbers of anaerobic bacteria in the oral cavity. An agent called halimeter is used by some of the specialists which aids in measuring the concentration of sulphide molecules in breath of patients – which in turn gives an assessment about the degree of badbreath the patient has. 

Systemic medical conditions contribute to a significant percentage of halitosis cases. Diseases afflicting the nose, sinuses, throat, lungs and the gastrointestinal system – the body parts which are anatomically linked to the mouth – are also found to contribute to halitosis. Eg. conditions like sinusitis, pharyngitis, common cold, bronchitis and asthma, tonsillitis, indigestion and acidity, constipation, etc. are found to cause bad breath. Persons suffering from colds and sinusitis often have postnasal drips of mucus which is rich in protein. Breakdown of the proteins by anaerobes cause release of VSCs causing the bad breath. Medical conditions such as diabetes, renal failure, liver dysfunction, hormonal imbalance etc. are also found to cause halitosis.

Food and tobacco are contributing factors to halitosis but are not a primary cause. Very spicy foods, such as onions and garlic (they contain sulfur compounds called mercaptans), and coffee may be detected on a person's breath for up to 72 hours after digestion. Onions, for example, are absorbed by the stomach and the odor is then excreted through the lungs. Studies even have shown that garlic rubbed on the soles of the feet can show up on the breath. There are 4 categories of food which are found to increase the problem of badbreath by causing an increase in sulfide production by bacteria – drying agents (cigarettes, alcohol), dense protein foods (diary foods, meat and fish) sugars and acids (coffee, fruit juices such as those of citrus, orange, tomato, grapes, pineapple etc.) – all these stimulate growth of anaerobic bacteria.

Even stress, dieting, snoring, age and hormonal changes can have an effect on your breath.

Morning breath - Saliva is the key ingredient in your mouth that helps keep the odor under control because it helps wash away food particles and bacteria, the primary cause of bad breath. When you sleep, however, salivary glands slow down the production of saliva allowing the bacteria to grow inside the mouth. To alleviate "morning mouth," brush your teeth and eat a morning meal. Morning mouth also is associated with hunger or fasting. Those who skip breakfast, beware because the odor may reappear even if you've brushed your teeth. Remaining still for long hours with restricted movement of the tongue and jaws such as while traveling long distances, slows down salivary production and will also be associated with bad breath due to the reasons mentioned above. 

Treatment

Proper tooth brushing twice a day and flossing will help to maintain good oral hygiene thereby aiding in reducing bad breath. Tongue cleaning is also an essential part of oral hygiene measures. Dentists recommend using a tongue scraper as part of a daily dental hygiene routine that includes brushing and flossing. This can definitely help control bad breath. Persons using removable dentures are advised to remove them at night and clean them. They may be worn in the morning after morning brushing. 

Drier your mouth, the worse your badbreath gets. Drink more water… it helps in arresting activity and growth of anaerobic bacteria. Seven of the top ten prescription medications cause dry mouth thereby resulting in halitosis. Eg. antidepressants, antihypertensives, antianginal drugs, some antacids and antihistaminics.

Chewing sugar-free gum also may help control the odor. If you have dentures or a removable appliance, such as a retainer or mouthguard, clean the appliance thoroughly before placing it back in your mouth. Before you use mouth rinses, deodorizing sprays or tablets, talk with your dentist because these products only mask the odor temporarily, and some products work better than others.

Mouthfreshners and other related items

Very often they are only short-term solutions. Most of the products work for an hour or two and after that the bad breath returns with increased severity. Many of them kill the bacteria to help decrease odor, besides generating a pleasant odor which also helps mask bad-breath. A common ingredient in breath freshener products is alcohol, which dries out the mouth, making the bacteria grow faster. Eg. Listerine pocket packs, Trioral breath rinse.

Visit your dentist regularly because checkups will help detect any physical problems. Checkups also help get rid of the plaque and bacteria that build up on your teeth. If you think that you suffer from bad breath, your dentist can help determine its source. He or she may ask you to schedule a separate appointment to find the source of the odor. Or, if your dentist believes that the problem is caused from a systemic source (internal), such as an infection, he or she may refer you to your family physician or a specialist to help remedy the cause of the problem.

Tongue cleaning – important aspects

• The total bacteria count on the dorsum of the tongue can be reduced as much as 50 percent after one day of tongue scraping in comparison to one week of tongue brushing to achieve the same results.
  

• Tongue scraping significantly reduces dental plaque by 33 percent without causing any deleterious tissue changes in the tongue.
  

• Tongue scraping is especially important for heavy smokers, mouth breathers, or those who do not use their dentures due to unduly coated tongues.
  

• Tongue scraping reduces a source of halitosis, root caries, and improves taste acuity and interest in different varieties of food in the elderly.
  

• The toothbrush is designed specifically to remove plaque from teeth. It is not designed to clean the tongue's histological structure effectively.
  

• Daily hygiene of the tongue is an important part of total mouth care, in addition to brushing and flossing.
  

CONSTIPATION II

Rectify your constipation by following this:

*Treatment starts form your kitchen

*Restrain from refine foods and synthetic drinks

*Have more sugarcane juice than sugar

*Have more natural drinks than bottle drinks

*Avoid over boiled milk

*Eat without adulterate a food with spices

*Take foods in their natural form

*Food should contain lots of fruits, vegetables, salads like cucumber, spinach, carrot, tomatoes,cabbage, and lettuce.

* If you have crossed 40 do not exceed two meals in a day, fruits can be taken liberally.

*Drink lots of water 1 hour before and 2 hour after meals, 3 to 4 lts in summer and 1 to 2 lts in winter.

*Have fruits like papaya, grapes, orange, figs and bael fruit which regarded to be the best laxatives.

*Raw spinach juice- 100 ml mixed with equal quantity of water taken twice daily

*Avoid preservative food products, biscuit, cakes, fleshy foods

*In your daily exercise include some abdominal exercise

*Refrain from mental tension

*As soon as you get up from bed take a glass of luke warm water and squeeze ½ piece of lemon     juice sweeten with honey

*Take about of ½ kg of wet mud or clay knead it into a dough like consistency and spread eventually on your abdomen(from navel to pubes) for about ½ an hour in the morning after that  have some long walk.

*Visit the toilet as you usually do even if the call is not there

CONSTIPATION I

Constipation is an unnatural and abnormal condition of digestive tract. It means hardening of stool, with difficult to void stool. This condition is the chief cause of many diseases as it produces toxin in the body. Diseases like rheumatism, gout, obesity, appendicitis, arthritis, high blood pressure, cancer, many skin problems etc.

If your body is unable to expel the waste matter after the digestive organ have taken essential elements it leads to further putrification which leads to poisoning of the whole system. When you are suffering from constipation you might have:

Headache, dizziness, dullness, heaviness, fullness of abdomen, inactive, coated tongue, foul breath, loss of appetite, depression, unclean skin like pimples, boil, nausea, dark circle under the eyes, restless sleep, acidity, pain in lumbar region, heart burns, irritation, flatulence, etc.

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM CONSTIPATION?

· Because most of the causes are due to faulty diet and life style of living.

· You are gone far from natural way of living.

· To cop up with this civilization, we make short cuts which directly affects our system.

· Intake of refine and rich foods lacking in vitamins and minerals.

· Insufficient intake of water.

· Large consumption of non-veg.

· Insufficient chewing of our meals.

· Weakness of abdominal muscle due to sedentary habits.

· Lack of physical activity.

· Stress and strain way of living.

· Frequent use of purgatives.

· Lack of salads and green vegetables in your diets.

DIABETES MELITTUS III

NATURAL MEDICATION:

JAMBUL FRUITS (jam): It’s an effective home remedy as a specific against diabetes, because of its action on the pancreas. Whole fruit along with its seeds are useful medication. The seeds are dried powdered and stored in a tied container for daily use. A teaspoonful of this dried power seed with water or milk should be taken daily twice.

INDIAN GOOSEBERRY:

With its high contain of vitamin C it is fully proved that Indian gooseberry is likely to reduce the blood sugar in diabetes condition. To make more effective add 1 teaspoonful of this juice mix with ½ glass of bitter gourd juice and should be taken daily for not less than two months.

BITTER GOURD:

Bitter Gourd has been recognized that it contains a hypoglycaemic or insulin like principle, designated as plantinsulin which has been found valuable in lowering the blood and urine sugar level. It is therefore wise to have liberally in diet of the diabetic patient for a long run.

DIABETES MELLITUS II

INITIAL ASSESSMENT

*Confirmation whether you are suffering from diabetes by consulting your diabetologist.

**Accept the reality and abide your normal pace of life without much tension.

*** Lifestyle modification.

DIET: Plays an important role in diabetes management as 50% of the treatment depends upon diet rectification. Our diet has 3 major nutrients carbohydrates, protein, and fat. As carbohydrates have a major role to play as this converts into glucose in our body. Also avoid excess intake of proteins and fat which are transformed into sugar if taken in excess. The primary dietary consideration for a diabetic patient is strict lacto-vegetarian. Eat lots of vegetables, whole-grain, whole-wheat products, brown bread, fruits, nuts, and emphasis should be on raw foods as they stimulates pancreas and increases insulin secretion.

Recommend to have curd made form cow milk, sour fruits like tomatoes could be taken with much advantage. Have chapattis made of flour which has not been passed through sieve. Chose things that are rich in vitamin B and chromium which promotes Glucose Tolerance and it facilitates the transport of glucose into the cells and not allow glucose into the blood glucose level to rise. Avoid especial non-veg, cereals, sugar and its preparation heavy meals, deep fries, and spicy dishes. Take less fats especially saturated fats like ghee, butter.

EXCERCISE: Regular exercise can help you to lower your blood glucose levels, improve blood circulation, lowers cholesterol, helps to reduce your stress and thereby improve your physical condition. Exercise like gardening, swimming, deep breathing, jogging, indoor games, long walk, etc., are best applied. Remember that the disease strikes generally those who lead a sedentary life.

STRETCH MANAGEMENT: Management of mental stretch plays an important role, as stretch increases glucose level.

DIABETES MELLITUS I

Diabetes is known as prosperous disease. It commonly strikes to those who take rich diets, obese, wealthy, over eating people. It is characterised by excess glucose in the urine and high level of blood glucose. Our body converts the food into sugar. Insulin which is produced by pancreas helps to absorb the sugar from the blood and utilise for energy. In case of diabetes pancreas become inactive and cease to produce insulin, the body is unable to convert the sugar into energy for the muscle.

AWARENESS

The first step is to accept the reality in coping with this problem. Diabetes adversely affects your quality of life and prevents you from leading a normal way of living. If you don't control them, they will control you. They should have a tight control on diet and life style. Mental, stress, grief, anxiety has a great influence on the metabolism which may cause sugar to appear in the urine. In long term saliently it causes irreversible damage to multiple organs like nerves, heart, blood vessel, eyes, and kidney etc., Which further threatens your life leading to heart attack, blindness, kidney failure and foot infection that may necessary require amputation.

NORMAL BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS

*Normal blood sugar levels

Fasting 80-120 mg/dl

Pre meal less than 130 mg/dl

Post meal less than 160 mg/dl

* Anything above these level can be termed as diabetic levels.

PATIENT FEELS

A diabetic patient feels very thirsty, hungry most of the time even after fulfilling their appetite, they don't put weight and gets tired easily physically and mentally, often wants to urinate, and they might feel drowsy, general weakness, pale, anaemic, constipation, itching around the genital organs, has a lower sex urge. A serious complication could be gangrene of the lower extremities.

PREMATURE GREY HAIR

Premature greying of hairs is an abnormal condition of hair. It makes even younger chap looks older. Normally as age advances the hair has tendency to lose its natural colour. Sebum is an oily source which is secreted by sebaceous glands of scalp and provides nutrition to the hair roots for lustres hair, black pigmentation, lengthening of hairs etc.

PREVENTS THE CULPRITS

Throw away mental worriness, make your sleep complete, have enough of water daily, lack of vitamins B, iron, copper, iron in the diets. Other contributing factors are unclean condition of scalp, using hot water for washing hair, using electric dryer, using harsh shampoo and soap for hair and another unavoidable predisposing agent is heredity background.

SAVE THEM WITH

* MASSAGE scalp often with cold water or homemade oil which activates sebaceous glands and enhance the blood circulation.

** Let your last hair rinse be with MARGOSA LEAVES (neem) decoction which stabilize its blackness.

*** Regular intake of CURRY LEAVES in any form is advice sable. In which they also prevents greying and maintain its black pigmentation.

**** Reconsider your daily intake, giving more importance to thinks which has richly in VITAMINS B, IODINE, IRON etc. such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, soya bean, brown rice, sunflower seeds, and green leafy vegetables, etc.

***** Above all include my previous suggestion on ## ANSWER 2 HAIR FALLS.

+++ There are many more just try them first. I'll be there with your more SAVE THEM WITH.