Table of contents:
- Why is the breath not fresh during fasting?
- Overcoming bad breath so that your breath stays fresh during fasting
- 1. Enough mineral water needs
- 2. Brush your teeth with herbal toothpaste
- 3. Avoiding certain foods and drinks
- 4. Don't smoke
- 5. Eat lots of vegetables and fruit
One thing that is often experienced when fasting in the month of Ramadan is bad breath. It's not just you, there are a lot of people going through the same thing. In order to keep your breath fresh during the fasting month, there are a few tricks and tricks to overcome the following bad breath.
Why is the breath not fresh during fasting?
Everyone has bad breath problems in the morning. However, during the fasting month, this condition occurs for almost half a day. This bad breath condition is known as halitosis.
Halitosis can be associated with the following conditions.
- Dry mouth
- Plaque on the teeth near the gum border
- White color on the tongue
- A feeling of dripping from the back of the nose to the throat
- Bad taste in the mouth, such as a metallic taste (dysgeusia)
In general, halitosis occurs because there is food residue that is still stuck between the teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. If the teeth are not thoroughly cleaned, it is very possible that the mouth has an unpleasant smell. The reason is, the leftover food can rot and trigger bacterial growth in the mouth.
Mentioned in the journal Oral Health And Dental Management, Bad breath during fasting is mostly caused by sulfur-producing bacteria in the mouth, as well as decreased saliva production.
Also described on the page Family Doctor, these bacteria can break down proteins so that they turn into volatile sulfur substances (VSC). These substances will usually stay on the back of the tongue and throat. This substance will smell bad, especially when you talk.
However, not only food scraps and toothbrushes that are not clean, there are several reasons for bad breath, such as smoking, certain foods, or drinks that trigger halitosis.
It feels uncomfortable to have a bad breath. You need to apply ways to deal with bad breath during fasting and keep your breath fresh.
Overcoming bad breath so that your breath stays fresh during fasting
You can avoid halitosis by applying the following ways to keep your mouth fresh.
1. Enough mineral water needs
The first way to deal with bad breath during fasting is to meet the needs of mineral water at dawn and breaking the fast. Drinking lots of water can help keep your mouth fresh during fasting.
Always remember, in one day you need to meet the needs of eight glasses of mineral water or the equivalent of two liters.
How to share it? Just two glasses during your meal and six glasses after breaking the fast. No need to drink it all at once, you can divide the time until you maintain adequate water.
2. Brush your teeth with herbal toothpaste
Maintaining the cleanliness and health of mouth and teeth is a way that needs to be done to deal with bad breath during fasting. Get in the habit of brushing your teeth for two minutes. Do it twice a day, at dawn and before bed.
You can also use toothpaste with herbal extracts, such as eucalyptus and fennel (fennel seeds). Both of these ingredients can effectively maintain the freshness of the mouth. Brush your teeth regularly with this toothpaste so that you can get the optimal benefits.
Also, don't forget to scrub your tongue after brushing and flossing so that no food remains remain.
3. Avoiding certain foods and drinks
Maybe you have applied certain methods to keep your mouth odor at bay. However, bad breath still occurs. Who knows, you eat certain foods or drinks that trigger halitosis.
Some foods and drinks that trigger bad breath, such as onions, garlic, cheese, spices, orange juice, and soda. How come? When these foods and drinks are absorbed, these substances enter the bloodstream and are carried to the lungs. Therefore, when you breathe, you can experience bad breath.
Come on, start paying attention to what you consume from now on to overcome bad breath during fasting. Avoid these foods and drinks at dawn or breaking the fast to avoid halitosis.
4. Don't smoke
When breaking the fast, many smokers indulge in smoking. Smoking is not good for overall health and has an impact on the smell of the mouth.
By quitting smoking, you can also reduce the risk of gum inflammation, which can also trigger bad breath. Therefore, to overcome bad breath during fasting, it is better to stop smoking.
5. Eat lots of vegetables and fruit
During sahur and iftar, always include various types of vegetables and fruit to treat bad breath. This intake is rich in vitamins and minerals that are good for maintaining a healthy body and keeping your mouth fresh.
Vegetables and fruit that you can consume include:
- Mango
- Papaya
- Give it
- Pineapple
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Tomato
The intake above is rich in vitamin C which can prevent inflammation in the body. Lack of vitamin C can cause bleeding gums, gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), and brittle enamel (the outer layer of the teeth). As a result of these conditions, it can lead to halitosis.
So, make sure your vitamin C intake is maintained by consuming lots of vegetables and fruits. Also take other steps so that the freshness of the mouth is always maintained.
