Bad breath, also known as halitosis, refers to the unpleasant odor emitted from the mouth or other air-filled cavities such as the nose, sinuses, and throat. It seriously affects social interactions and psychological well-being, making it an issue worth paying attention to. From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), what are the types of bad breath? Different types are caused by different reasons and accompanied by various symptoms.
- The ancient TCM text Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine) discusses the body as an interconnected system, with the mouth, nose, throat, and teeth not being isolated organs but closely related to the five internal organs.
- The throat is also a key point where many meridians converge, with 10 out of the 12 main meridians directly passing through this area.
- Therefore, in addition to localized oral issues causing bad breath, TCM sees it as closely related to internal body imbalances. TCM believes that the spleen opens to the mouth and its manifestation is seen in the lips. Bad breath often originates from imbalances in the spleen and stomach. When the stomach fire is strong, or food accumulates in the stomach and stagnates into fire, it leads to damage of stomach yin, deficiency of fluids, and internal heat rising, which causes foul air to be expelled from the stomach, resulting in bad breath. The types of bad breath in TCM are as follows:
Food Stagnation Bad Breath
Eating too much, overeating, sugary foods, or greasy foods. Symptoms include a sour and unpleasant smell in the mouth, abdominal bloating, acid reflux, loss of appetite, constipation, and thick, greasy coating on the tongue. Treatment should focus on promoting digestion and balancing the stomach. Hawthorn water is recommended.
Heat-Phlegm Bad Breath
Bad breath accompanied by dry nose, red and swollen sore throat, yellow nasal discharge, coughing, and excessive phlegm. This can occur after viral infections or due to smoking and drinking. Long-term sleep disturbances may also contribute. Treatment includes using mulberry leaves and dried tangerine peel for decoction.
Stomach Fire Bad Breath
In addition to bad breath, symptoms may include thirst, a desire to drink cold drinks, mouth ulcers or sores, swollen and painful gums, dry and hard stools, and dark yellow urine. This condition may also be linked to long-term sleep problems. Chrysanthemum tea is a suggested remedy.
Q: Do older people commonly have bad breath?
Yes. Older adults often experience salivary gland degeneration, which reduces saliva secretion and diminishes the mouth’s natural cleaning ability, making them more prone to bad breath. Middle-aged and elderly individuals can chew pickled plums, eat more fruit, or drink licorice tea to stimulate saliva production and prevent bad breath.
Q: What causes children to have bad breath?
Children may experience bad breath due to excessive snacking, drinking sodas, digestive issues, or unbalanced diets. Children’s bad breath is often accompanied by irritability and restless sleep, and many children also experience constipation. To improve bad breath, two acupuncture points can be massaged:
- Head: Ear Wind – Located at the back of the ear, just below the ear lobe. It is an important point as many nerves and blood vessels pass through here. Gently massage in a clockwise direction for 5 minutes, three times a day (morning, afternoon, evening).
- Hands: Joining Valley – Located on the hand, this point lies between the thumb and index finger. Apply pressure and massage the area frequently.
