You may turn your face away from someone with bad breath, but if you have never experienced it yourself, it can be hard to imagine the daily challenges they face. Below is an example from one of my patients.
Studies show that men are more likely than women to suffer from malodour, and about 25% of people in various countries are affected.
When someone has this problem, chewing gum, mouthwash, and more frequent toothbrushing are usually the first measures tried. If these only last a few hours, it is advisable to investigate the root causes.
Common causes include:
- Oral causes (about 85%) — In most cases, intra‑oral conditions such as poor oral hygiene, periodontitis, or tongue coating (an ideal niche for oral bacteria) are the main contributors to bad breath. Seeing a dentist and a hygienist is recommended.
- Digestive issues from a TCM perspective — In Traditional Chinese Medicine we next look at digestion. Is stomach acid and digestive function sufficient to break down proteins and carbohydrates? Clues include digestive symptoms, tongue appearance (teeth marks and a thick coating on the dorsum of the tongue), and pulse diagnosis; undigested food in the stool, a heavy feeling in the stomach after eating, bloating after animal protein, or food intolerances. These are the signs of poor digestion or possible Candida overgrowth.
Alternatively, excess stomach acidity can also cause bad breath.
Gastrointestinal or endocrinological disorders account for a smaller proportion of cases (around 5%).
- Ear nose and throat causes (about 10%) — ENT disorders can also contribute. Acute tonsillitis is the most important ENT origin of halitosis, and streptococcal infections are often involved.
If home‑based naturopathic measures do not help, have the root cause evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Here are some naturopathic tips. If digestion is the cause, try these:
Dietary changes: Avoid or minimise refined sugars, alcohol, dairy, caffeine, and overeating..
Before meals: Drink 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water about 20 minutes before main meals. Don’t forget to use a straw to protect your teeth. You can also add ¼ to ½ a lemon to a glass of water. Do not use these if you have known high stomach acidity.
- Dietary changes: Avoid or minimise refined sugars, alcohol, dairy, caffeine, and overeating.
- Fluid timing: Avoid drinking large amounts of fluid with meals. Drink water and other fluids 45–60 minutes before or after eating.
- Food combining: Avoid mixing fruit with main meals; fruit ferments faster and can disturb digestion, causing bloating.
- Temperature and preparation: Avoid very cold foods and reduce raw foods if your digestion is weak, as these can further weaken digestive function.
If the cause is oral (gingivitis, tooth decay, etc.), see your dentist and hygienist. While you arrange care:
- Aniseed tea can be used as a mild mouthwash; gargle and spit.
- Salt rinse: Dissolve 1 tablespoon of sea salt in ½ cup of warm water and use to rinse and gargle.
- Oil pulling: Gurgle 1 tablespoon of coconut oil for 15 minutes in your mouth before morning and evening toothbrushing.
- One more below...
Important safety note: If home measures do not help, or if you have fever, severe pain, persistent bad breath, recurrent infections, or other worrying symptoms, consult a healthcare professional (GP, dentist, or ENT) for assessment and appropriate testing.
A few years ago I saw a patient who had chronic eczema and severe psoriasis. He also suffered from bad breath, which was affecting his relationships with family and colleagues and undermining his confidence. Embarrassment at work and fear of losing his job was causing him lots of stress. Halitosis issue had already led him to his dentist, but they were unable to resolve the problem with odour.
His digestion was generally good and his dental health had been satisfactory. His tongue also looked normal, but when I checked his tonsils I noticed something linked to his skin condition too. His tonsils were dark red to slightly purple and swollen, and one upper‑neck lymph node was palpable. He had no sore throat, cough, fever, or chills.
For his skin condition I offered acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine; the herbal formula included anti‑inflammatory herbs for the throat. I also advised him to rinse his mouth and throat with salt water as described above and to try 1 tablespoon of liquid chlorophyll in a glass of water.
Why chlorophyll? It is commonly used as an internal deodoriser and can help reduce bad breath and body odour. It also supports oral health when used as a tooth powder, soothe sore throats and gingivitis, help with skin inflammation, promote healthy intestinal flora, and support liver function. In this case it addressed many of the issues we were targeting. By day five the malodour had resolved. He continued to take chlorophyll for its other perceived benefits, and his throat signs subsided in parallel with improvement in his skin.
