Dr. Amruta Rane

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is embarrassing and can take a toll on your confidence level. Bad breath can be due to a number of reasons such as eating odorous foods, smoking, dry mouth, medical conditions, gum disease, and sinus conditions.
However, the primary cause of bad breath is the bacteria that build up on the back of your tongue or between your teeth.
Maintaining good oral health is essential to controlling bad breath. This includes regular tooth brushing, flossing and tongue scraping.
Drinking adequate amount of water throughout the day is also essential for keeping your breath fresh. Plus, after eating a meal, swish water around your mouth for a few seconds. This will loosen food particles stuck between your teeth and clean your mouth.

Remedies

1. Fennel
Fennel acts as an excellent mouth freshener that helps control bad breath. It also contains antimicrobial properties that fight the bacteria in the mouth.
Slowly chew a tablespoon of fennel to freshen your breath and stimulate the production of saliva.
Drink fennel tea a couple of times a day. To make this tea, steep one or two teaspoons of fennel seeds in a cup of hot water for 5 to 10 minutes.

2. Cinnamon
Cinnamon contains cinnamic aldehyde, an essential oil that not only covers up bad breath, but also reduces the amount of bacteria in your mouth. To treat bad breath follow this remedy twice daily.
Boil one teaspoon of cinnamon powder in a cup of water, add some bay leaves and cardamom too.
Strain the solution and use it as a mouth rinse to refresh your breath.

3. Fenugreek
Fenugreek tea is highly effective when bad breath is caused by catarrhal infections
Boil a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in a cup of water.
Strain and drink this tea once daily until you get rid of the problem.

4. Cloves
Cloves help freshen your breath and also have antibacterial properties that are very helpful in getting rid of bad breath.
The easiest method is to pop a few pieces of cloves into your mouth and chew them thoroughly. This will eliminate bad breath in a few minutes.
Make clove tea. Boil a cup of water, add one teaspoon of ground cloves and allow it to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Drink the tea or use it as a mouthwash twice a day.

5. Parsley
Parsley contains chlorophyll that can help neutralize bad breath.
Chew on a fresh parsley sprig to refresh your breath. You can also dip this herb in vinegar and then chew it thoroughly.
Another option is to put parsley leaves through a juicer and sip the juice anytime you need to refresh your breath. It will also aid digestion.

6. Lemon juice
Curing bad breath with a lemon rinse has been used for generations. The acidic content in lemons prevents the growth of bacteria in your mouth. Plus, its strong pleasant smell helps mask the bad odour.
Just stir one tablespoon of lemon juice into a cup of water and rinse your mouth with it. You can also add a bit of salt to it and then use it. This remedy will help to solve the problem of dry mouth which is one of the main reasons that contribute to bad breath.

7. Apple cider vinegar
Due to its ph balancing effects, apple cider vinegar makes a wonderful remedy for bad breath. You can try any of these remedies depending on your preference.
Stir one tablespoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar into a glass of water and drink it before eating your meals. The vinegar will help in digestion as well as cure bad breath.
Gargle with apple cider vinegar mixed in a cup of water.

8. Baking soda
Baking soda, also known as bicarbonate of soda, is another great solution for getting rid of and preventing bad breath. It helps balance the levels of acid that contribute to bad breath. Plus, it fights oral bacteria that cause bad breath.
Mix one-half teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water and use it as a mouth rinse once daily until you are satisfied with the results.
Brushing your teeth with baking soda will also help reduce the acidity in your mouth and prevent bacteria from building up on your tongue.

9. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has antiseptic properties that act like a powerful disinfectant for your mouth. Can get the benefits from tea tree oil in a variety of ways.
Brush your teeth with a toothpaste containing tea tree oil.
Another option is to put a few drops of tea tree oil on your toothbrush along with your regular toothpaste.
You can also mix a few drops of tea tree oil, peppermint oil and lemon oil in a glass of water and use it as a mouthwash.

10. Tea
Normal as well as herbal teas can also help combat bad breath. The antioxidant polyphenols present in both green and black tea can stop the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath.
Make this tea, steep one teaspoon of dried sage in a cup of hot water for five minutes. Strain and drink this tea several times a day to keep your breath fresh.
If your bad breath persists even after trying these natural treatments, consult a doctor or dentist to see if there is a more serious underlying problem.

Tips to prevent bad breath

A. If you wear dentures, remove them at night and clean to get rid of bacterial buildup from food and drink.

B. Drink plenty of water and swish cool water around in your mouth. This is especially helpful to freshen 'morning breath.'
Brush after every meal and floss, preferably twice a day.

C. Replace your toothbrush every two to three months.

D. Arrange regular dental check-ups and cleansing.

E. Scrape your tongue each morning with a tongue scraper or spoon to decrease the bacteria, fungi, and dead cells that can cause odour. Hold the tip of the tongue with gauze to pull it forward in order to clean the back of the tongue.

F. Chew a handful of cloves, fennel seeds, or aniseeds. Their antiseptic qualities help fight halitosis-causing bacteria.

G. Chew a piece of lemon or orange rind for a mouth- freshening burst of flavor. (wash the rind thoroughly first.) the citric acid will stimulate the salivary glands and fight bad breath.

H. Chew a fresh sprig of parsley, basil, mint, or cilantro. The chlorophyll in these green plants neutralizes odours.

I. Try a 30-second mouthwash rinse that is alcohol-free (unlike many off-the-shelf products). Mix a cup of water with a teaspoon of baking soda (which changes the ph level and fights odour in the mouth) and a few drops of antimicrobial peppermint essential oil. Don't swallow it! (yields several rinses.)

Replace your old tooth brush with a new one after every three to four months.

Few people are lucky enough to be born with a set of perfectly aligned teeth. This fact and the pursuit for beautiful smile led to the development of braces. Traditional braces did help realign teeth, but are uncomfortable and affect a person's appearance while they are in use. Ceramic braces are less noticeable as the brackets are clear or tooth coloured. Invisible braces are the latest in dental realignment therapy. They are virtually invisible and are not associated with any dietary restrictions unlike the earlier forms of braces.

Invisible braces are also known as aligners. Aligners are similar to mouth guards in appearance, but are custom built to fit tightly around the patient's teeth. These slip over the teeth and are designed to be removed and replaced every fortnight. Aligners may also be removed for eating, brushing and flossing. Each set of aligners vary slightly so as to move your teeth forcefully and correct your bite.

Treatment time of invisible braces depends on how much the teeth needs to be moved. In most cases, treatment takes between 10 months to 24 months. Aligners are also often used by adults who wore braces as children to correct slight displacement of teeth. In such cases, treatment could take as little as 10 weeks.

However, not everyone can get invisible braces. Aligners are custom built to fit tightly over teeth. This makes them unfit for use on children teeth as their teeth are constantly growing and developing. This is typically used for patients suffering from mild to moderately crowded teeth or those who have minor spacing issues between teeth. It can also be used as a follow up form of treatment for traditional braces.

Invisible braces are also slightly more expensive as compared to traditional braces as they are custom fitted.

The first step towards getting invisible braces is an X-ray, dental photographs and impression of the patient's teeth, gums and bite. These are then used to create a digital 3D representation of the patient's teeth in their current positions and their desired positions. The in-between stages are then created by moving the teeth .25 to .33 millimeters in each stage. The number of intermediate stages depend on the extent teeth need to be moved. Each stage is representative of an aligner to be worn for 2 weeks. If a tooth needs to be pulled away or rotated, a small, composite attachment may be bonded to the tooth.

The biggest advantage with invisible braces is that they can be worn without making a person self-conscious.

A thin layer of material placed over a tooth to protect its surface or improves its appearance is known as veneer. Dental veneers are a popular treatment for transforming your smile’s overall appearance. Placement of dental veneers can dramatically improve your smile and appearance. Most people believe that veneers are a single treatment when there are actually many types of veneer you can avail.

Types-

Some common types of veneers include—

1. Composite Veneers: Composite veneers are more commonly done. These are adjusted and sculpted during the dentist appointment. Cracked or chipped tooth, small cosmetic problems are usually fixed with composite veneers.

2. Porcelain Veneers: Porcelain veneers are expensive, but the effect they have on your smile is worth every penny. Porcelain veneer treatment involves multiple trips to the dentist’s office. They are stain-resistant and are more durable than other veneers.

Types of Dental Problems That Veneers Fix-

Veneers are routinely used to fix:

1. Teeth that are discolored -- either because of root canal treatment; stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride or other causes; or the presence of large resin fillings that have discolored the tooth
2. Teeth that are worn down
3. Teeth that are chipped or broken
4. Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped (for example, have craters or bulges in them)
5. Teeth with gaps between them (to close the space between these teeth)

Advantages-

The advantages of veneers are as follows:

1. They give a natural appearance to your teeth.

2. The tissues of the gum can tolerate porcelain well.

3. Porcelain veneers are resistant to stains.

4. The porcelain colour can be chosen to make dark teeth appear whiter.

5. Veneers offer a traditional approach in transforming the shape and colour of a tooth; they don’t normally require the intensive shaping before the procedure, like dental crowns do.

6. Veneers offer an aesthetic dental substitute.