Homeopathic medicine, treatment and remedies for Halitosis (bad breath)

Some of the most important homeopathic remedies that are helpful in treating halitosis are listed below. The symptoms mentioned under each remedy prompt the homeopathic physician to choose the said remedy.

• Carbo Vegetabilis
  Common Name: Vegetable charcoal
  Symptoms: Carbo vegetabilis is indicated in cases of halitosis with the following characteristics:
  • Tooth decay
  • Gum bleeding while brushing
  • Indigestion, bloating and colic
  • White or yellow coating on tongue along with ulcers
  • Infection and inflammation of the gums
  • Sluggishness and laziness
  • A tendency to suffer from chronic complaints
  • Receding gums, which bleed easily 
  • Extreme weakness and a tendency to faint easily
  • A sensation of being cold along with bluish discolouration of skin

Symptoms are worse after eating fatty foods or overeating and get better from belching.

• Kalium Phosphoricum 
  Common Name: Phosphate of potassium
  Symptoms: Kali phosphoricum works well in young individuals who are physically weak and are easily exhausted (both mentally and physically). It helps treat halitosis associated with the following characteristics and symptoms:
  • Toothache
  • Oily skin, anaemia, weight loss and a tendency to catch cold easily
  • A brown coating on tongue 
  • Swelling in the roof of the mouth; the person feels as though the roof of their mouth is lined with grease
  • Offensive breath that smells like rotten cheese
  • Dry mouth with a bitter or sour taste, especially in the morning
  • Receding, spongy gums that bleed easily

• Kreosotum
  Common Name: A distillation of wood tar/beechwood kreosote
  Symptoms: Kreosote is prescribed to dark, thin, tall and malnourished individuals who those experience the following symptoms:
  • Bad breath along with a bitter taste in mouth
  • Discoloured teeth that decay rapidly
  • Spongy gums that bleed easily
  • Red and bleeding lips
  • Tooth pain so severe that it interferes with sleep 

Symptoms aggravate on exposure to open air and after periods in women and the patient feels better on application of warmth on the affected area or after consuming warm food.

• Mercurius Solubilis 
  Common Name: Quicksilver
  Symptoms: Mercurius solubilis is an excellent remedy for halitosis with the following features:
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Sweetish metallic taste in the mouth
  • Offensive discharges and offensive smell from the body
  • Excessive secretion of saliva from the mouth which is offensive, tastes like copper or is bloody and thick
  • Spongy, receding gums that bleed easily
  • Dental abscess and teeth decay, especially at the crown
  • Thick and flabby tongue with a yellow coating and offensive ulcers 
  • Moist mouth and excessive thirst
  • Tonsillitis and sore throat with offensive pus in the throat and tonsils
  • Offensive belching

All the symptoms worsen at night and in humid weather.

• Pulsatilla Pratensis
  Common Name: Wind flower
  Symptoms: Pulsatilla is an efficacious remedy for individuals who are mild and gentle in nature and tend to weep easily. It helps treat halitosis that presents with the following characteristics:
  • Bad breath with sweet-tasting saliva
  • Dryness in mouth with lack of thirst; patient rinses their mouth often
  • Food tastes bitter, especially bread
  • Frequent belching
  • Changeable taste in the mouth, varying from bitter, salty, offensive and greasy
  • Dry lips; patient frequently licks them
  • Tongue coated yellow or white and covered with mucus

Symptoms are worse in the evening, after having fatty food and on lying on the left side. Symptoms get better on consuming cold food and drinks.

• Pyrogenium 
  Common Name: Artificial sepsin
  Symptoms: Pyrogen is indicated in case of the following symptoms:
  • High fever, typhoid
  • Infections and sepsis
  • Restlessness and rapid pulse
  • Horrible breath, with a sweetish, pus-like taste in the mouth
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Cracked and dry tongue that is smooth and red
  • Dry throat and difficulty talking

• Sepia Officinalis 
  Common Name: Inky juice of cuttlefish
  Symptoms: Sepia officinalis works best for women who have generalised weakness, yellow complexion and tend to faint easily. The following symptoms indicate a need for sepia:
  • Bad breath along with a white coating on tongue that clears up after menstruation
  • Salty, offensive taste in the mouth
  • Pain in the tongue and roof of the mouth as though burnt
  • Swollen and cracked lower lip
  • Dryness of the tongue, mouth and throat

Symptoms worsen in the evening and on exposure to cold air and get better after sleeping and exercising.

Homeopathic doctors employ extremely minute quantities of natural substances to treat various conditions. To ensure that homeopathic medicines retain their potency and give optimal benefit, it is necessary that certain lifestyle habits be modified. Homeopathic physicians advise the following changes along with medicines to promote a speedy recovery: 

Do’s: 

• Indulge in active movement in open air to keep your muscles strong. 
• Go for daily walks and do light manual labour to strengthen your muscles. Some exercises also help to relax the mind.
• Consume healthy and nutritious foods. 

Don’ts: 

• Anything in the diet and regimen that can react with the medicines should be avoided like:
  • Strong-scented flowers in the room
  • Medicinally compounded tooth powders and mouthwashes 
  • Perfumed sachets 
  • Highly seasoned foods and sauces 
  • Strong-smelling foods and drinks like coffee, herb teas, fine liquors prepared with medicinal spices and spiced chocolate
  • Frozen foods like ice creams 
  • Raw herbs and dishes that contain or are made from these herbs 
• Long afternoon naps will do more harm than good and hence must be avoided as far as possible.
• Avoid mental strain.

It is believed that more than 50 percent of the general population suffers from halitosis. The oral cavity is the origin of halitosis in most of the cases, while non-oral causes such as disorders of the gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinary system account for halitosis in only a small percentage of cases. In about 1 percent patients, the cause is drugs or diet.

Halitosis can lead to anxiety and social embarrassment. Patients with chronic bad breath are often disappointed with the frequent use of conventional medicines and conservative treatment, which do not provide a permanent solution for their condition. Homeopathy offers a simple and safer way to manage and treat the condition at a deeper level. Homeopathic treatment not only heals the condition, but also treats the susceptibility of a person to certain diseases, called miasm.

A review article published in the International Journal of Oral Health and Medical Research summarised the efficacy of homeopathic applications in dentistry. As per the article, homeopathy is helpful for patients who are reluctant to take modern treatment or in those who did not respond to conventional treatment.

Homeopathic medicines are highly diluted and made from natural substances like plants and minerals. They are administered keeping in mind the patient's mental and physical makeup; hence, these are essentially safe and are not known to cause side effects. However, it is important that one consults a qualified homeopathic physician for appropriate homeopathic treatment and rapid recovery.

Halitosis or bad breath can occur due to various oral and non-oral conditions. It is usually Conventional treatment is usually unable to achieve permanent cure from halitosis. Homeopathy is considered to be a very safe mode of medication without any noted side effects. Homeopathic medicines are said to be effective in relieving acute episodes as well as prevent recurrences of halitosis. A detailed medical history guides the physician to the appropriate remedy for the individual.

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