Bad Breath

An informative look at recent Holistic Fitness News

DR KAPLAN'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

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That old issue of bad breath was back in the news this week. The Daily Mirror published a major article on the subject which gave all sorts of advice, some useful and some that is best described as 'speculative'.

According to dentist, Mervyn Druian, bad breath is more likely to be due to an unhealthy mouth than to anything you eat or are digesting. So what are you supposed to do if your friends tell you that you have bad breath? Don't forget that friends like these are friends indeed!

Advice given pertains mainly to oral hygiene which includes regular brushing, flossing and visits to the oral hygienist. (Your dentist will either have one at his surgery or tell you how to find one). Sugar-free gum is also recommended. I'm not recommending any particular brand as nobody has offered me my £100 million pound minimum for 'selling out'. However, I guess it makes sense to choose one with a peppermint flavour.

Herb teas are all healthy or are they?
Herb teas have an excellent reputation as a healthy, wholesome hot beverage. Until now that is. Staying with our dental theme of the week, it seems that a few herb teas are bad for your teeth as their acidic nature can gnaw away at the enamel of your teeth. No I'm not joking�An article in the prestigious Journal of Dentistry reports that the men in white coats have found that some herb teas may be very bad for your teeth. Apparently one of the most acidic teas is blackcurrant tea which is much more acidic than orange juice.

Homeopathic Tip of the Week

Well, as bad breath was our main issue lets have a look at the homeopathic remedy that has the biggest reputation for helping patients with bad breath, unhealthy gums and problems of the mouth in general. It's called Merc. sol and if you are going to use it, I suggest you only use it in the commonly available 6c strength. This homeopathic medicine is particularly indicated if the tongue shows imprints of the teeth and produces an excess of saliva. It's often useful in patients who report that they find saliva on the pillow at night. As always, I recommend a visit to a professional homeopath, but this remedy does have a big reputation for bad breath. One pill twice a day for two weeks should be enough to see if it's working or not.

And still staying with teeth I'd like to remind you of the homeopathic remedy with the greatest reputation for helping kids get through teething problems. It's called Chamomilla and I've heard parents swear by it for a couple of decades. You can use it in 6c granules several times a day for all children. If the child has a red cheek, is very irritable or has a greenish diarrhoea at the same time, it is particularly indicated.

And finally, still with the teeth, here is a recommendation for when your mouth and gums feel sore and are bleeding a bit after you have been to the dentist and had some work done or after consulting the oral hygienist. Hypercal solution is very useful and can be used as a simple mouthwash. This one will need to be ordered from a homeopathic chemist.

Otherwise my advice is the same as every dentist. Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Floss as often as you can and don't eat too many sweets. As for blackcurrant tea, let's wait for more evidence before we decide�

Dr Kaplan's personal website is: www.drkaplan.co.uk and his practice website is www.140harleystreet.co.uk and he can be contacted on (020) 7487 3416