Halitosis affects about a quarter of the US population. It is interesting to note that during my lecture at the Hinman Dental Conference on halizote, I asked the audience who in the audience thought they had bad breath. About 80% of those present raised their hands. I was shocked because these were people working in dental clinics!
Now you can imagine why selling consumer products designed to combat bad breath is a four billion dollar a year business. There is no doubt that dentists should include the treatment of bad breath in their treatment plans and in the work of our clinics in general.
Thank God that scientists and researchers are studying such an urgent problem as halitosis. It is known that more than 90% of the sources of unpleasant odor are associated with the oral cavity and are the result of the decomposition of protein residues by anaerobic bacteria, which leads to the formation of volatile sulfur compounds. Such volatile compounds are usually methyl mercaptan and sulfide hydride, which have the smell of “rotten eggs” or hydrogen sulfide. Typically, patients can pinpoint the location in the mouth where they think this “aroma” is coming from, because these gaseous compounds have a very pungent odor. I have had many patients say, “Oh, that smell is coming from between my central incisors,” or, “I get a nasty taste from the spaces between my upper molars on both sides.” In some cases, the sources of bad breath may be in the nose, throat or stomach. Unfortunately, consideration of all possible causes of unpleasant odor is beyond the scope of this article. Suffice it to say that in most cases the problem is related to the oral cavity, and therefore we, dentists, are the very specialists who are actually supposed to cure bad breath.
Your nose is an excellent smell detector and is by far the most advanced odor analyzing device on the planet. Your nose can smell up to ten thousand different smells and is extremely sensitive to sulfur compounds.
What is this substance?
Hydrogen peroxide is a combination of two oxygen molecules and two hydrogen molecules; it is colorless and odorless. The substance is very unstable and quickly disintegrates upon contact with pathogenic flora.
Reference! When hydrogen peroxide breaks down, molecular oxygen is formed; it has an oxidizing property, which is why it is used in medicine as a disinfectant.
Hydrogen peroxide is used only externally; internal use is not practiced . More than a hundred years ago, medical scientists found that rinsing the mouth with hydrogen peroxide is absolutely harmless. At that time, diphtheria and stomatitis were treated with this substance.
Hydrogen peroxide comes in different forms:
- Solution – 3%.
- Concentrated solution – perhydrol – up to 31%.
- Hydroperite – 35%. Available in tablets.
To rinse the mouth, you can use a 3% solution and hydroperite after dissolving it in water to the desired concentration. Perhydrol is used in pharmacology, as well as for disinfection of premises.
We use the remedy correctly in the fight against halitosis
Hydrogen peroxide is a medicine and should be used strictly according to the instructions. If you do not follow the main rules, you can get burned.
Prepare the required solution
To obtain the product, 3%, 10% hydrogen peroxide, as well as tablets with a concentrate of the active substance of 33% are suitable. Rules for preparing a solution with hydrogen peroxide for rinsing:
- 30 milliliters of a three percent solution is enough for one rinse. They must be dissolved in 100 ml of clean boiled water.
- A ten percent solution should be taken less or diluted with more water. A teaspoon of peroxide must be combined with 300 ml of water - this will be enough for 3 procedures.
- To prepare the product from a tablet, you need to dissolve it in 100 ml of water.
Hydrogen peroxide must be diluted carefully. If you use tablets, this will take longer, so using solutions is much more convenient. It is necessary to take boiled water, at a temperature of 35-40 degrees - this will be as comfortable as possible for the procedure.
We apply according to the rules
In order for rinsing with peroxide to remove bad breath to give a positive result, you must follow these recommendations:
- The course of use of this remedy is from 1 to 3 days, depending on the complexity of the problem.
- The number of rinses per day is from 3 to 5, preferably after meals.
- The time that should be devoted to the procedure is from 1 to 3 minutes.
- Since the solution must be warm during use, it is recommended to warm it up if necessary (if a large volume was prepared at once).
- Before manipulation, you need to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
- The procedure takes place in 3 stages. First, you need to take an amount of water equal to one sip into your mouth. Secondly, rinse thoroughly. Thirdly, after manipulation, the solution must be spat out; swallowing it is prohibited.
An alternative to rinsing could be:
- irrigation of the oral cavity from a spray bottle;
- wiping teeth with a cotton pad soaked in the product.
But these 2 methods of carrying out the procedure are not as effective, because they do not allow the product to spread to all corners of the oral cavity.
In what cases is rinsing with a solution indicated?
Since bad breath can be caused by various diseases of the oral cavity, the use of peroxide is indicated in the following cases :
- stomatitis;
- periodontal disease;
- periodontitis;
- gingivitis;
- fungal infections of the mucous membranes and gums;
- oral infections;
- halitosis;
- bleeding gums;
- toothache.
Why does your mouth smell bad?
A person can guess that the smell from the mouth has acquired a rotten, sour or putrid hue by the reaction of his relatives or people around him. You can check this yourself. To do this, you need to cover your mouth and nose with your palms, creating a “house”, and exhale into it. By then sniffing the air, you can determine exactly what the smell is.
If a person is healthy and the oral cavity does not have any pathologies, then the smell from the mouth is fresh, without unpleasant impurities. The reasons for its change are the air that passes through the oral cavity, carrying with it the products of oxidation or decay of soft tissues. All diseases that have a symptom of bad breath in their clinical picture can be represented as follows:
- diseases of the respiratory system, including the nasopharynx;
- diseases of the digestive tract;
- pathologies of the oral cavity, which include stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis, caries of varying severity.
The last group of diseases is the most common, because most people have at least one carious tooth. And various microorganisms that “nest” in the carious cavity are the direct culprits for the appearance of bad breath. They also become the initiators of pathological processes when localized in the mucous membrane of the gums, tongue or cheeks.
With the participation of pathogenic microflora, an inflammatory process begins that destroys the organ’s own tissues, resulting in the formation of disintegrating fragments of mucous membranes, vascular walls, blood cells and plasma, tooth enamel and internal tooth structures. Their contact with atmospheric oxygen makes the oxidation reaction and, therefore, decay more intense. In addition, during inflammatory processes, pus is often formed, which also does not have a pleasant aroma. The result of all this is a very characteristic smell from the mouth.
Efficiency
The effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide in combating unpleasant odors has been clinically proven. But, like any other remedy, it has pros and cons.
Advantages:
- The antiseptic capabilities of this product allow you to get rid of a large amount of bacterial flora, which provokes various dental diseases. For example, caries occurs as a result of a staphylococcal infection that settles on the tooth enamel.
- Once hydrogen peroxide enters the oral cavity, it instantly begins to fight bacteria.
- Hydrogen peroxide is available to everyone due to its low cost.
This product has one drawback - an unpleasant aftertaste that lingers in the mouth for a long time, but it can be easily removed by rinsing your mouth with clean water.
Attention! The use of hydrogen peroxide does not eliminate the need for daily oral hygiene using toothpaste and a toothbrush.
Not everyone knows the properties of the popular hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide is used in medicine - both traditional and folk - to treat many diseases.
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Most often it is used externally, but in some cases it is used as a mouth rinse, due to its beneficial properties:
- Antiseptic - consists of destroying pathogenic microorganisms. The abundance of bacteria in the mouth also causes halitosis.
- Healing - in an environment where pathogenic microbes do not multiply, tissue restoration occurs much faster.
- Weak oxidizing - due to this property, peroxide performs an oxidizing function in an acidic environment and a reducing function in an alkaline environment. This alignment of microflora helps to stop pathogenic processes, recovery and the disappearance of unpleasant odors.
- The ability to stop bleeding - when it gets on damaged tissues of the skin and mucous membranes, the product breaks down under the influence of catalase, oxygen is released and bacteria are destroyed. All this helps stop the bleeding. Therefore, rinsing causes ulcers to heal faster and the condition of the gums during periodontal disease improves.
Contraindications and restrictions
Although hydrogen peroxide is a relatively safe substance, it is still a harsh alkali that must be used with caution. It is very important to adhere to the recommended dose of peroxide, and under no circumstances swallow the substance. If it enters the stomach, the following complications may develop :
- burns of the mucous membrane of the esophagus or stomach of varying severity;
- dizziness;
- nausea and vomiting;
- allergies.
A high concentration of peroxide if ingested can cause death.
Hydrogen peroxide should not be used in the following cases:
- childhood;
- pregnancy;
- lactation period;
- increased sensitivity of teeth;
- allergy;
- 2-3 days after tooth extraction - the product can damage the blood clot that covers the wound surface;
- taking antibacterial drugs.
Also contraindications for rinsing the mouth with peroxide are the following pathologies :
- violation of the integrity of the tooth;
- a large number of fillings and deep lesions of the oral mucosa;
- diseases of the liver, kidneys and digestive system in acute form;
- presence of braces and plates.
Is it possible to rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide?
This remedy has a very strong effect. Even a small amount of it in any solution or composition will allow you to get the desired result.
Like any method of traditional treatment, rinsing the mouth with peroxide has its undeniable advantages, but at the same time also disadvantages. These issues need to be sorted out.
The advantages of such a tool
Everyone knows about the excellent antiseptic properties of the drug, so it copes with all bacteria. After all, they most often become the causes of many dental diseases.
Even high-quality teeth cleaning is not always able to cope with all oral bacteria, and as a result, they remain on the surface of the enamel and lead to the development, for example, of caries or periodontal disease.
Therefore, the most important and undeniable advantage of this product is the unique ability to destroy all bacteria located in the oral cavity when rinsing.
After all, hydrogen peroxide has a very low price.
The advantages of the drug include accessibility.
A jar of such a solution is present in every home, as are iodine, brilliant green and potassium permanganate.
Cons of using peroxide
The first disadvantage noted by those who have already tried peroxide as a remedy for bad breath is the unpleasant taste of the solution.
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Many modern rinses are much nicer.
The main disadvantage of hydrogen peroxide is that if used carelessly, you can additionally develop a number of diseases.
Peroxide is an aggressive alkali that can even cause death if it enters the body. Therefore, ingesting hydrogen peroxide is strictly prohibited.
If, when rinsing, a small amount of the drug gets into the stomach, then nothing bad will happen, but when too much is swallowed, you can even get an extensive burn to the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.
Indications for the procedure
Using a drug such as peroxide as a solution during mouth rinsing procedures can treat some problems.
Namely, use is indicated for:
Peroxide can be used for problems not only of the gums and teeth, but also of the oral mucosa.
Boiled water can also be replaced with a decoction of medicinal herbs, such as chamomile or calendula.
How to carry out the procedure?
To prepare a solution for mouth rinsing, you need to purchase a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide and dilute it with clean, warm boiled water in the proportion of 15 drops of peroxide per 100 ml of water. If hydroperite is to be used, 1 tablet is dissolved in a glass of water.
The essence of the procedure is very simple - you need to take the solution into your mouth and rinse your mouth for a couple of minutes . The liquid is then spat out and collected again. Each time for the procedure, you should prepare a fresh portion of the solution - you cannot store the prepared solution.
As mentioned earlier, to relieve the unpleasant aftertaste, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with clean water at the end of the procedure. To consolidate the positive effect, you can rinse your mouth after peroxide with a decoction of medicinal herbs - chamomile, sage or mint.
It is recommended to rinse with peroxide several times a day . As for the course of therapy, it depends on the cause of bad breath. For example, for stomatitis or periodontitis, the course of treatment is a week.
If the cause of the unkempt odor is aphthous stomatitis, it is better not to rinse your mouth with peroxide, but to soak cotton pads in it and apply them to the affected areas for 1 minute. This procedure should also be carried out several times a day. You need to rinse your mouth more than half an hour before meals.
If, when rinsing, unpleasant sensations are observed - itching or burning, the procedure should be stopped immediately , and the oral cavity should be thoroughly rinsed with water. If peroxide has caused severe irritation of the mucous membranes, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with infusion of chamomile.
Experts advise avoiding the consumption of acidic and alkaline foods during treatment. You should also refrain from drinking alcohol and coffee - these habits negatively affect the gums and mucous membranes, and also accelerate the development of inflammatory processes in the oral cavity.
There is another way to use hydrogen peroxide - massage your gums with peroxide and soda balls. The recipe is simple :
- a teaspoon of soda is mixed with 10 drops of a 3% peroxide solution;
- the mixture rolls into a hard ball;
- the ball is applied to the gums and a 10-15 minute massage is performed;
- The therapeutic course continues until the bad breath is completely eliminated.
Important! It is not advisable to use peroxide to rinse your mouth for a long time - it may dry out the mucous membranes and damage them.
We invite you to watch an informative video about rinsing the mouth with hydrogen peroxide:
Eliminating other unpleasant odors with hydrogen peroxide
In addition to bad breath, another uncomfortable sensation is excessive sweating.
Peroxide is used to remove sweat odor as an antiseptic. It kills bacteria that cause unpleasant odors. To do this, use a solution of the drug with water. In this case, the proportions depend on the skin type. It is not recommended to increase the peroxide concentration so as not to cause skin burns. You should also not use this product for dry skin types. Simple ways to treat complex diseases:
To eliminate the smell of sweat in the armpits, prepare a solution by diluting just 5 ml of peroxide in 2/3 glass of water. After this, carefully treat the skin in the armpit area once a day. Before the procedure, you should wash and dry the skin well.
In order to wash your feet that sweat too much, you can use this product:
- mix peroxide and water in a ratio of 1:10;
- moisten a cotton pad with this solution;
- Wipe the foot well and sprinkle with talcum powder.
If wiping does not have the desired result, you can resort to using a compress. The procedure is carried out as follows:
- dilute 10 ml of peroxide in 100 ml of water;
- add 10 grams of aloe juice;
- soak gauze in the solution;
- wrap your foot.
This procedure is performed before bedtime for 14 days.
Often, excessive sweating of the feet leads to an unpleasant odor from shoes. This is also facilitated by low-quality goods. To eliminate this problem, you can also use hydrogen peroxide for shoe odor. To do this, pour the solution into the middle of the shoe or gently rinse it. Then dry in the open air. In addition to odor, this product also eliminates various harmful bacteria and fungi. Therefore, this drug is perfect for use for preventive purposes.
Hydrogen peroxide is an affordable remedy that is in the first aid kit in every home. This drug is excellent for treating various diseases. But besides this, it can be used for other purposes, for example, eliminating bad breath, sweat and shoe odors. The most important thing is to correctly prepare the required solution, observing all proportions.
Reviews
Below are some reviews. If you have something to say, leave your feedback in the comments below the article, it will be useful to our readers.
Lovchikov Stanislav, Orenburg . “When I first heard that bad breath could be removed with peroxide, I thought it was quite dubious. But, since this product is inexpensive, I decided to try it. After just a couple of days, I realized that peroxide really works, and effectively and quickly. I recommend this to anyone who suffers from halitosis.”
Morozova Natalya, Krasnodar . “A friend of mine used peroxide to whiten her teeth and found that her breath became fresher. She advised me, I also decided to try it - the effect is good, my teeth are a shade whiter, and my breath is fresher. I used the product for a week and did not observe any unpleasant effects.”
If you follow safety rules and properly prepare the hydrogen peroxide solution, it will effectively fight various diseases of the growth cavity, and your breath will be fresh. However, not all diseases can be stopped with this remedy; first, you should consult a doctor.
Using hydrogen peroxide for bad breath: what is the effectiveness of the product
When whitening teeth at home, peroxide solution is also often used. In order to make your smile snow-white, you need to rinse your mouth with this product twice a day, after each brushing of your teeth.
You can also use peroxide instead of regular toothpaste - simply moisten your toothbrush in it and carry out a hygiene procedure, or prepare a “paste” by mixing the drug with baking soda. With regular use, the effect of using this product is clearly visible to the naked eye after 10 - 15 days.
Hydrogen peroxide is a universal substance found in almost any home medicine cabinet.
Many are familiar with it as an antiseptic that can be used to treat a cut or wound to prevent the development of an inflammatory process.
However, hydrogen peroxide is also effective against bad breath, which, in addition to this use, perfectly whitens teeth and disinfects the oral cavity from various pathogenic microorganisms.
Precautionary measures
Experts recommend identifying the true cause of halitosis before trying to solve the problem with rinses. In case of serious pathologies of the digestive system or oral cavity, this method will not solve the problem, and the disease will progress.
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It is very important to prepare a solution of the required concentration. If it is more saturated, then the person is likely to develop a burn to the mucous membrane and other tissues, and this will aggravate halitosis
Dentists categorically prohibit the abuse of this method and the practice of rinsing with peroxide too often as a treatment for halitosis. This product is used by doctors for professional cleaning, but at home it can harm the tissues of teeth and gums.
It is necessary to avoid contact of the solution with the mucous membrane of the eyes and the skin around them.
Causes of bad breath
To treat halitosis, it is necessary to determine its cause.
A dentist, otolaryngologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist and doctors of other specialties will help you figure it out.
Possible causes of helitosis:
- unbrushed teeth;
- dental diseases;
- diseases of the nasopharynx;
- some food products;
- dentures;
- decreased secretion of saliva;
- gastrointestinal diseases (putrid odor);
- pneumonia, bronchitis;
- impaired metabolism;
- hunger and thirst;
- binge eating;
- hormonal imbalances;
- diabetes mellitus (acetone smell);
- diseased liver and gall bladder (pungent odor);
- renal failure;
- alcoholic beverages and nicotine;
- medicines;
- nervous overstrain.
