Latest research carried out by a well known mint company have found that the extract from the bark of the magnolia tree may well be the answer for killing off bacteria in the mouth which cause bad breath.They carried out tests which showed that when this substance was used in a mint, it killed off almost 60% of the bacteria which cause this awful smell compared with about 4% in a normal mint.
Bad breath is one of the major social and psychological problems facing people to-day and is a barrier to social relationships. It is such a problem that it affects the majority of people so it is definitely a problem. If it is any consolation ,dogs, cats and babies suffer from it too !
Mnay people do not know that they have bad breath or have never bothered to find out! The best way of all is to ask your doctor or dentist to tell you. However, there are other methods, such as licking your wrist and then the saliva dry for a minute or two. By smelling the dried area, you can determine if you have bad breath or not. Some people recommend scraping the back of the tongue with a plastic spoon and then smelling that.
How come that bad breath exists and what causes it ? Basically the bacteria in your mouth release rather smelly material which will coat the mouth lining, teeth and gums. But the major amount will be deposited on the tongue. Cigarette smoking and even passive smokers may have this problem. Spicy foods and fatty foods, and coffee may all create rather unpleasant smells. Garlic and onions are well known in craeting social barriers, especially in the short term so you have to plan well ahead ! In these situations, a sprig of parsley, combined with a good brushing amd a mouthwash or mint will usually do the trick.
Sometimes people become manic or obsessive about bad breath and may well have to have counselling. Certain medical conditions can be a contributory factor and these are :- gum disease (periodontitis), dry mouth, sinusitis, respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, diabetes and liver and kidney disease. Unfortunately mouthwashes are only a short term solution and do not address the cause of the problem.
Oil-containing mouthwashes are now gaining popularity as a home-based cure for bad breath.Most cases of bad breath are the results of bad oral hygiene- that means a build up in bacteria and that will cause your breath to become offensive and unpleasant. Some mouthwashes containing zince have been found to be effective. Then there are a whole range of mouthwashes containing antibacterial agents such as cetylpyridinium chloride, zinc gluconate, essential oils and cholride dioxide. Diet with fresh fruits (apples and citrus) together with celery help to keep a healthy mouth together with plenty of water to stave off a dry mouth.
Nux vomica and Kali phosphoricum are homeopathic remedies which can also be tried. But the best way to treat bad breath is the cause. There may be a problem with bleeding gums and in that case a dentist should be consulted. Sometimes, medication can be a contributory cause and a change may be recommended. At the end of the day most bad breath problems can be treated simply by good oral hygiene and medical care.
We may well have to wait a while for the magnolia bark mints to clean up bad breath. In the meantime, we may well want to find a fast long term solution. The site below contains a lot of useful information and is worth studying.
