Offensive smell from the mouth is a common complaint in the day to day medical practice. It mainly affects those who mingle with others very closely. Bad breath is noticed mainly by friends & family members or some times person himself feel it and come to the doctor. Many bad breathers develop depression which forces them to be away from society which in turn hampers their activities.
The protein in the food debris is degraded by the anaerobic bacteria present in the mouth. Offensive odor is produced due to the release of some gases like hydrogen sulfide, skatol, etc due to bacterial activity. The formation of a thin sticky membrane on the tongue favors bacterial growth. Bacteria are also seen in the crypts of tonsils, dental caries, dental pockets, etc. Bad breath is associated with oral hygiene, caries, gingivitis, tonsillitis, tonsillar plaques, food habits, water intake, tobacco chewing, stomach and liver diseases, etc.
Homeopathy is a system of medicine introduced by a German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. Homeopathy treats the diseased individual as a whole rather than treating diseased parts or organs. The physical, mental, emotional, social spheres of a person are considered for a permanent cure. This system believes that diseases are caused due to the derangement of vital force which is an invisible power in every individual. In a healthy state, the vital force maintains the equilibrium of mind-body, and soul. During this man will have normal sensations and functions. When the vital force gets affected there will be external manifestations in the form of signs and symptoms. The imbalance in the body functions makes a shelter for foreign organisms(bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, etc) and allows them to proliferate &produce so-called diseases. Homeopathy believes that the real disease comes before the bacteria & viruses, hence the root cause of the disease has to be treated for a permanent cure. The antibacterial and antiviral agents only remove the secondary causes mentioned above.
Diseases are produced by noxious morbific agents called Miasms which are dynamic influences that affect the vital force. There are mainly three miasms PSORA, SYPHILIS&SYCOSIS. These three causes are accepted by other schools of medicine but called by different names. Psora causes functional disturbances, syphilis causes structural changes in the form of destructions, and sycosis causes changes in the form of overgrowth. These three miasms can act individually or in combined form producing different disease conditions.
Treating bad breath with homeopathic medicine is easy if the correct remedy in a suitable dose is given. In the homeopathic medical repertory by Dr. Robin Murphy, there are 140 homeopathic drugs mentioned for bad breath. So just giving one drug for bad breath may not give a good result. To come to a correct remedial diagnosis we should have the symptomatology of the person. It is the total symptoms of a person which includes mental generals, physical generals, particular symptoms, etc. Bad breath is considered a physical general symptom. Even though it comes only from a part of the body it affects the whole individual.
Symptoms related to appetite, thirst, bowels, etc are included in physical generals.
All signs and symptoms (mental&physical)of the person are taken in detail. Knowledge about past illnesses, family history of diseases, food & bowel habits, relation to climatic changes and constitution, etc are noted down in a systematic order.
Mental symptoms:
example: fear, anxiety, depression, anger, jealousy, etc…
Physical symptoms:
example: Body makeup,appetite,thirst,desires,aversions,bowels,urination,sleep,taste, nature of smell,discharges any abnormal sensations like pain, burning ,climatic changes,thermal relations, and etc…
Peculiar uncommon symptoms:
This is the specialty of the homeopathic system of medicine. For the selection of a suitable remedy, these symptoms are very important. common symptoms which are seen almost in all patients are the least important.
particular/local signs&symptoms:
This includes signs &symptoms related to body parts &organs.
example: Coating on the tongue, nature of mucus membrane of oral cavity, tonsils, gums, teeth, ulcers, discolorations, etc are considered here.
Systemic & general physical examination:-
Bad breath can be due to various systemic disorders. Hence all systems ( respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system, cardiovascular system and etc )and parts from head to foot should be examined.
provisional disease diagnosis; Here probable diseases are diagnosed. In homeopathy, disease diagnosis is not that important for the selection of a remedy, but is needed for general management and to know the prognosis.
Investigations:
This includes lab investigations and other methods to find out any other major illnesses.
Final disease diagnosis:
After doing all investigations the disease is diagnosed.
Remedial diagnosis:
This is the most important part as far as homeopathy is concerned. For this, the selected symptoms are arranged in a systematic order on the basis of importance.
symptoms are analyzed to find out the importance of each symptom for the selection of a remedy. Remedies are selected on the basis of similarity.[the basic principle of homeopathy is ‘similia similibus center means like cures like. A medicine that can produce some symptoms in a healthy man can be used as a remedy to treat similar symptoms in a diseased person. Each homeopathic drug is proved on healthy human beings and the symptoms collected by this process(drug proving) are written in material medica.]
Suitable remedies are diagnosed by a process called repertorisation. Here books called repertories are used. Repertory is the index of symptoms of materia medica(books that contain the symptoms of drugs). Nowadays computer software is used for repertorisation. Through this process, we will get the remedies covering the maximum important symptoms of the patient.
Among this group of remedies, the most suitable remedy is selected by referring to various books and the history of the patient…The selected medicine is given in suitable potency & dose.
ANTI MIASMATIC TREATMENT:
The root cause of the disease is miasms which should be eradicated using suitable anti-miasmatic drugs. Every drug can eradicate the miasm if there is a symptom similarity. there are anti psoric drugs, anti syphilitic drugs, and antipsychotic drugs. After diagnosing the miasm suitable anti-miasmatic drug has to be given to complete the cure.
[In homeopathy medicines are prepared from different sources like minerals, plants, animals, toxins, diseased parts, etc. Medicines are prepared from these substances by a special process called potentisation. Here the soluble substances are potentized by diluting with spirit and insoluble substances by grinding with sugar of milk. The crude drug substance is first mixed with a calculated quantity of spirit and water and kept for a few days. From this mixture, an extract is taken and is called mother tincture(denoted as Q). From this mother, tincture dilutions are prepared by potentisation. Potentisation is a mathematical process by which the quantity of the original drug substance reduces but medicinal power increases. Depending upon the ratio of the quantity of drug substance and vehicle(spirit or sugar of milk)there are different scales for this process. Each scale has got different potencies which indicate the power of medicine. For example in decimal scale 3x,6x.12x, etc. in the centesimal scale there is 30c,200c etc, in LM potency there are 0/1,0/2,0/3, etc. potency is written after the name of every medicine]
The same medicine is available in different potencies. Suitable potency is selected according to so many factors like severity, depth of disease, condition of the patient, nature of the disease, type of symptoms, age of patient and etc.
Some useful homeo drugs for bad breath.
Arnica montana, Antim crude, Ars alb, Asafoetida, Aurum met, Baptisia, Bryonia, Borax, Calc carb, Carbo veg, Cinchona, Chelidonium, Graphites, Kali Bich, Kreosotum, Lachesis, Lycopodium, Merc sol, Natrum Mur, Nitricum Acidum, Nux vomica, Plantago, Pulsatilla, Phos, Pyrogen, Sulphur, etc.
1) Arnica montana:
This medicine is useful for fetid breath. The mouth is very dry with a thirst for water. Bad breath is associated with fever. There is bleeding from the gum, maybe after tooth extraction or after injury. Offensive gas passes upwards and downwards from the stomach. The patient is very sensitive to touch with sore and bruised feelings all over the body.
2) Antim crude:
Useful for bad breath with gastric complaints and coated tongue.This medicine act mainly on filthy persons with an aversion to bathing. The tongue is coated white like fur. Nostrils and lips are cracked. Eructations are putrid. Very useful for bad breath in children
3) Ars alb:
All discharges are having a cadaveric smell. Saliva is bloody with a bad odor. Thirst for warm water is well marked. This medicine act well in debilitated and emaciated persons. Bad breath is associated with gastric disorders. Vomiting from the slightest food or drink and intolerance of vegetables and watery fruits. Mentally these patients are fastidious with an insecure feeling. They are having fear of death or serious disease with restlessness and anxiety.
4) Asafoetida:
Useful for bad breath associated with eructations.Great distension of abdomen with a sensation of a ball rising in throat.All discharges are offenssive.Reverse peristalsis with loud eructations.This medicine act well on hysterical persons.
5) Aurum met:
Useful for bad breath in girls at puberty. There is ulceration in gums with a putrid or bitter taste. Destruction in body tissues like bone is noticed in these patients. This medicine act well on persons who are tired of living with suicidal thoughts. They also have a feeling that they have done an unpardonable crime.
6) Baptisia:
Breath is fetid with a bitter taste. Gums sore and ulcerated.The yellowish-brown coating on the center of the tongue with glistening edges. The surface of the tongue is cracked. These patients feel difficult to swallow solid food. Tonsils are enlarged without pain. Useful for painless tonsillitis & pharyngitis with a putrid smell.All discharges are offenssive.This medicine act well on persons having a besotted look. There is a tendency for stupor and delirium in these persons.
7) Borax:
Useful for bad breath associated with an aphthous ulcer in the mouth. Also effective for fungal infection of the mouth. The mouth is very hot and tender. Ulcers bleed on the touch. Very useful for bad breath in children with ulcers in the mouth. The child is having fear of downward motion.
8) Bryonia:
Irritable persons who always talk about business. Lips parched dry and cracked. Tongue coated dark brown with a bitter taste in the mouth. Thirst for a large quantity of cold water is well marked. Heaviness in the abdomen after eating. Usually constipated with hard dry stools.
9) Calcarea fluor:
Plugs of mucus are continually forming in the crypts of the tonsils. Unnatural looseness of the teeth with or without pain.Prone to get caries with discoloration. Tonsils are enlarged with recurrent infection.
10) Carbo veg:
These patients are weak and debilitated. All body discharges are profuse with a cadaveric smell. Gums are retracted and bleed easily. Frequent putrid eructations with distention of abdomen. Complaints were ameliorated by passing flatus. Can’t tolerate meat and fat.Involuntary diarrhea at night. Wants to be fanned from a close distance.
11) Chelidonium:
Tongue yellow with an imprint of teeth.Bad odor with a bitter taste in the mouth.Useful for bad breath with liver complaints.Thirst for hot liquids. The patient feels better after eating. Constipation with hard round stools.Constipation alternating with diarrhea.
12) Graphites:
This medicine act well on obese patients with skin troubles. Breath smells like urine. Rotten odor with salivation and blisters in the mouth.Sour eructations with gastric complaints.Skin complaints with sticky discharges. Gastric pain is ameliorated by eating.
13) kali bich:
Bad breath with gastric ulcer. There are round ulcers in the mouth. Saliva viscid. Vomiting with a bitter taste. The tongue is smooth. Craves bear. Gastric complaints alternating with rheumatism.
14) Kreosotum:
Kreosotum can be used if: The Teeth are dark and crumbly. Bitter taste in the mouth with a putrid odor. Very rapid decay of teeth. All discharges are very offensive. Gums are spongy and bleed easily. Bad breath is associated with caries and gastric complaints.
15) Lachesis:
This medicine act on dark restless patients with jealousy. The tongue is black-colored. Complaints are aggravated during sleep. Wants fanning from a long distance.Cannot tolerate tight clothing around the body. Complaints aggravated in a hot climate.
16) Lycopodium:
Act well on intelligent people who are physically weak. They have lack self-confidence. Useful for bad breath associated with sour eructations with burning in throat. Teeth are excessively painful to touch. There are blisters on the tongue. Wants warm food and drinks. These people are usually constipated. Craving for sweets well marked.
17) Merc sol:
Sweetish metallic taste in the mouth with bloody viscid saliva. Gum is spongy and bleeds easily. The mouth is moist with increased thirst. Teeth indented. Crown of the teeth decay. Fetid odor from the mouth can be felt all over the room. Ulcerations in the mouth with bleeding.All body discharges are offenssive.All complaints are aggravated at night.
18) Nux vomica:
This medicine act well on people who lead sedentary lives. They are very short-tempered and become angry very easily. They are very busy in their occupation and enjoy modern civilized life with all types of food and drink. Bad breath is more after meals and in the morning. The posterior part of the tongue is coated and the anterior part is clean. Sour taste in the mouth with nausea in the morning. They have got a frequent urge for stool. Heavy feeling in the abdomen after food is noticed.
19) Plantago:
Dental caries with severe toothache.Pain better by eating. Salivation is better by eating. Toothache with swelling of gums. Gargling Plantago Q is useful to get relief from toothache due to caries.
20) Pulsatilla:
Act well on mild and gentle ladies with a yielding disposition. The patient is very timid with a weeping tendency. Bad breath is noticed mainly in the morning. My mouth is very dry but doesn’t want to drink water. Yellow or white tongue covered with a tenacious mucus. Taste is altered. The taste of food remains in the mouth for a long time. The patient washes the mouth frequently.
21) Psorinum:
Act well on unclean patients with bad odor. Hawking up of cheesy, pea-like balls of disgusting smell and taste is the main cause of bad breath in these patients. Tonsils are swollen with profuse offensive saliva. Quinsy with tough mucus in throat. All body secretions are filthy. Eructations taste like bad eggs. Very hungry and get up even at midnight for food. Swallowing is painful with pain in the ears.
22) Pyrogen:
Bad breath of septic origin is cured with this medicine. Taste terribly fetid with horrible breath, tongue red, dry, smooth asif varnished. Bad breath is associated with high fever and coffee ground vomiting. In general patients, the body is very sensitive to touch, can’t rest in bed because of bruised pain. All discharges are offenssive.
23) Sulphur:
This medicine act best on dirty & filthy people with offensive odor and a tendency for skin diseases. Lips dry bright red with a burning sensation…Tongue white with red tip & borders. Bitter taste in the morning. Eructations are putrid. Burning in all parts of the body. Aversion to bathing is well marked. Not bothered about hygiene, still they believe that they are having superhuman powers. These individuals are very selfish.
Some homeo mother tinctures (Q) are useful for bad breath.
[mother tincture should not be taken directly because it can produce a burning sensation, hence 10 drops should be mixed in half glass of water and taken internally or used for gargling]
1) Cinnamon Q: This mother tincture can be used for gargling after diluting with water. Also useful for bleeding from gums.
2) Eucalyptus Q: This tincture can be used as a mouth wash after mixing with water. Internal use of this medicine can remove mucus from the respiratory tract. Also useful for cold and coryza.
3) Zingiber Q: Useful for bad breath associated with gastric complaints. This medicine can improve digestion. Also used for gargling.
4) Rhus glabra Q: Gargling of this tincture is very useful for ulcerative lesions in the mouth like an aphthous ulcer. Internal use of this tincture can reduce the bad smell of stool & flatus.
5) Oleum Calophyllum Q: Gargling of this tincture can reduce toothache. Due to its fragrant quality very useful to reduce bad breath.
6) Balsamum Peru Q: This medicine can remove the mucus from the respiratory tract hence very useful in chronic bronchitis and lung abscess. Can heal the ulcers in the mouth by gargling this tincture, it can also produce a pleasant smell from the mouth.
7) Menthol Q: This is a main ingradient in tonics and syrups.Gargling of this tincture reduces bad breath.
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