Among the most awkward social situations, bad breath is truly embarrassing. No matter how long you chew gum or consume other breath-freshening foods, they are completely ineffective.Why do some people suffer from halitosis? Professor Zhao Wanghong, Chief Physician of the Department of Stomatology at Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, previously explained in an interview that numerous factors contribute to bad breath. These include constipation, insomnia, indigestion, and even consuming foods like garlic, durian, or salted fish. Such items can disrupt the normal digestive process, leading to putrefaction and foul odors within the digestive tract.
Professor Zhao advises that if you identify clear underlying conditions affecting the mouth or nose, treating those conditions must come first to eliminate bad breath.
Persistent bad breath may signal digestive tract cancer
However, if there are no obvious oral diseases or noticeable stomach pain, yet persistent bad breath persists alongside a thick yellow or dark tongue coating, heightened vigilance is warranted. This could indicate malignant tumors, potentially even tumors that have begun to decay. Such cases often involve digestive tract cancers like esophageal, intestinal, liver, lung, or stomach cancer.
Liver cancer patients may exhibit a distinct "sulfuric odor" in their breath.
Additionally, many unique, pungent halitosis odors can signal serious underlying conditions.For instance, chronic atrophic gastritis produces a fermented food odor; diabetic ketoacidosis and impaired kidney function yield a rotten apple scent; renal failure patients emit a fishy breath odor; while cirrhosis and liver cancer patients exhibit a distinct sulfur smell.The presence of these "special" odors often indicates that the underlying disease is already severe. Patients are usually aware of their illness before noticing these distinctive breath odors, as these symptoms typically appear in later stages. Additionally, excessive psychological stress can disrupt nervous system function and saliva secretion patterns. If saliva production is significantly reduced, the dry mouth becomes prone to bacterial buildup, easily leading to bad breath.
Oral Care Tips
Professor Zhao notes that individuals with halitosis often exhibit a damp-heat constitution, while a minority may present with cold-dampness. He recommends consulting a TCM practitioner for diagnosis and tailored treatment.Beyond medication and increased water intake, those with internal heat should consume bitter melon, winter melon, celery, water chestnuts, hawthorn, eggplant, lotus root, pears, loquats, and watermelon. Those with cold-dampness should incorporate ginger (including its juice), fennel, Sichuan pepper, chili peppers, lamb, chives, and crucian carp.Avoid excessive consumption of sweets and greasy foods. Regarding daily routines, regardless of cold or heat patterns, increase physical activity to promote digestion, metabolism, and circulation. Maintain good oral hygiene by rinsing daily with strong tea water (or chewing clean tea leaves repeatedly), using decocted patchouli for mouthwash, or even chewing sugar-free gum—all offer benefits.