Halitosis or bad breath is an oral condition that is not only embarrassing but can also have serious repercussions on a person’s internal health. Many halitosis cases are in fact other medical conditions such as diabetes and kidney infections. When you notice that you have halitosis, you should immediately find its cause and address the situation right away.
By making improvements to your dental hygiene you can actually solve a lot of halitosis conditions. This includes brushing your mouth at least once in the morning and once at night and flossing every single day. Microscopic food particles build up on your tongue, between your teeth and gumline if you neglect to carry out these simple hygiene procedures. Buildup in your mouth will be the perfect place for the bacteria to reside.
As the bacteria breaks down these food particles, it eliminates a putrid smell that we all know as a bad breath problem. Gum disorders and tooth decay are also some of the common causes that lead to halitosis. With improper dental hygiene, your teeth and gums will become weaker and more susceptible to infections. This is why it is essential to visit your dentist at least once a year. He will be able to pinpoint and treat problems in your mouth which may not be noticeable to the naked eye. If you do have bad breath and the dentist does not see any irregularity in your mouth, you might have to undergo exams to identify any underlying medical illness.
The food you regularly eat can also be the cause of the beginnings of halitosis. Garlic and cabbage or other strong smelling foods are often the culprits. It is therefore essential to drink lots of water so that your mouth as well as the inside of your digestive system will always be free of toxins and foul odors.
Medications and vitamin supplements can also affect your breath even if only temporarily. If this is an inconvenience for you, you can always request your doctor for a different kind of medication that will not exhibit the same side effects. As you can see, halitosis does not always come from improper oral hygiene. Solving your bad breath problem, no matter what the cause, will definitely improve your social life. You should make the effort to find the reason for your bad breath or halitosis as soon as possible, not just for your personal life but for your total well being.
Tags: bad breath, gum disorders, halitosis, oral condition, tooth decay
Many spices and herbs, commonly found around the house, can be used for herbal healing to fight infection, sanitize and heal wounds, improve brain power and detoxify the body. Be warned that many of these herbs have essential oils in them which are toxic in high doses so should especially be avoided during pregnancy. Consider the following:
- Rosemary is my favorite for herbal healing. It is called the herb of remembrance (or the herb of chicken) because it increases blood flow to the brain increasing memory, focus, concentration and mental endurance. Take the dried or fresh leaves and steep them like you would tea. Rosemary is also one of nature’s best antioxidants as it helps prevent cell damage and helps the liver function to detoxify the body.
- Tumeric is another easy way to help detoxify the body. Also, to decrease inflammation in your joints or muscles or anywhere in the body, put 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in a couple ounces of warm water and drink it quickly. If you don’t like the taste, add some cinnamon or chase it with your favorite fruit juice. This bright yellow powder is used as a clothing dye, so be careful, it will stain your clothes!
- Cayenne is a strong, topical pain neutralizer. Use this spicy, red powder for pain and inflammation of any kind: joint pain, muscle pain or nerve pain. Combine 1 part cayenne powder with 5 parts flour, add some water until it becomes a thick paste and spread it on to a piece of fabric. Fold the fabric so the cayenne paste is in the middle. Apply this to the sore area for 15 minutes maximum, watching for redness or burning. Also, sprinkle some cayenne in your socks to keep your feet cozy on cold days.
- When you’ve got that sensation in the back of your throat as if you’re about to get sick, chew on some sage leaves. The essential oils in the leaves are antimicrobial and should prevent the infection. A pure form of the essential oil can be put in some water and gargled. Also, crush the leaves with a mortar and pestle then wrap them in sterile gauze and apply to scrapes and cuts to clean the wound.
- Parsley can be used for speedy herbal healing of wounds, bruises, stings and bites. Crush the leaves of this breath freshening garnish then wrap them in some sterile gauze and apply directly to the skin.
As you can see, herbal healing is possible from your own home – it’s effective and inexpensive!
Naturopathic medicine is a safe, effective and natural approach to you and your family’s health. Naturopathic doctors can and will empower you to live a healthy lifestyle while treating and preventing disease. Find more information on the services I offer at Arbour Wellness Centre at Nanaimo Naturopathic Doctor.
Tags: cayenne, Dr. Tonia Mitchell ND, herbal healing, home remedies, infections, inflammation, Nanaimo Naturopathic Doctor, pain, parsley, rosemary, sage, tumeric, wounds
Some form of competition is needed to achieve really big things. Great athletes get better when competing with better athletes. Businesses get better (or go out of business) by competing with better businesses. We are driven forward by competition. Coach Sonnon of the Circular Strength Training® system likes to point out the etymology of the word. It derives from the latin con and petire which in essence is to seek together. By entering into competition we seek excellence through our interaction with others. We push each other forward.
When faced with discomfort (physical, mental, emotional or spiritual) we tend to back off, unless we are driven by something bigger. Whe I can’t imagine doing another rep, or running another 30 seconds, I can focus in on that goal of competing at my peak and that allows me to push through. Consider the Will Smith secret to success. If you get on the treadmill with him, you’ll get off first or he’ll die trying to stay on longer. That’s the power of competition.
Competition has become taboo in modern society. We teach kids that as long as they are having fun, nothing else matters. Everyone gets to be right. Everyone has the right to win. All the time! Now, I am not saying that we should not encourage our kids to have fun. If you aren’t having fun, it’s harder to learn. But we should also be teaching them that there is a value in seeking to improve every time out. They should want to win, or at least do better than they did the last time. And they should feel bad when they don’t win! And want to figure out how to improve. Those are valuable lessons that our politically correct dogma is trying to whitewash. I agree that competition is not about winning and losing. But it is about using winning and losing as a tool to grow and improve!!!
If you want to inch ever closer to your potential, you need to constantly slip past your comfort zone. That is a very hard thing to do on your own. The best motivation is competition. But you don’t need systematized competition. Sometimes something as simple as having a training partner who pushes you is, in itself, a form of competition. But something needs to be driving you forward and making you examine yourself when you don’t make the grade. If you are in the fitness dip, and need some extra motivation, start looking for a challenge to break through the barrier and achieve excellence.
Tags: circular strength training, fitness, Health, mental toughness, mindset
