58. HELP HALITOSIS WITH GOOD HABITS
Dear Grandma Donna: I was with Janie yesterday and could hardly tolerate being close to her because of her breath. What makes bad breath? It makes me concerned that my own breath may not smell sweet. Love, Savana
Dear Savana: You remind me of my own experience of many years ago. My brother and I were in a car with another couple traveling to a meeting. When we arrived home, he said to me, “You were sitting in the back seat, and I smelled your garlic breath from the front seat!”
Certain foods bring bad breath and garlic is one of the worst. After that rebuke, I became very careful about eating garlic, even though I love the flavor. Another food I enjoy eating which does havoc to breath is raw onions. How I enjoy having raw onions in my salads and on many of my main dishes, but I have smelled onion breath on other people, so I don’t eat raw onions when I will be around people.
Garlic and onions cause temporary bad breath, but some mouth issues can cause a 24-hour a day problem. This condition affected a high school friend of mine. I could hardly stand to be close to her because her breath was very unpleasant. Since none of us want to have bad breath, let’s look at some possible remedies.
For my high school friend, it could have been decayed teeth, gum disease, or perhaps she didn’t brush and floss her teeth carefully. It is vital to brush and floss after every meal. This is an easy task at home, and we need to plan for when we are away from home. Simply carry a toothbrush, a container of floss and a miniature tube of toothpaste in a purse or in a pocket. When we don’t brush and floss, bacteria accumulates on the bits of food left in the mouth and between teeth. This bacteria can be the cause of bad breath.
Also, we must be careful to brush our teeth thoroughly. Many brush hastily, then rush off to a busy schedule. Authorities recommend spending at least two minutes in brushing the teeth. At the same time, the tongue should be brushed because germs love to hang out on the tongue. As we complete the brushing, we should be just as diligent in flossing. Flossing removes harmful plaque and food particles that become stuck between the teeth and gums.
One more problem that causes bad breath is gum disease, or gingivitis. This disease and other serious dental problems should be seen by a dentist.
Good health habits contribute to sweet breath, so let’s review some of the habits that make a healthier lifestyle:
- Dehydration can cause bad breath. We must drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. The person who is very small or very large should drink one ounce of water for each two pounds of weight. Water promotes regularity, and helps to wash substances out of the body that would contaminate the breath. Water also promotes regularity which sweetens breath.
- Exercise daily, preferably outdoors. Body movement brings more oxygen into the lungs and helps clean out the system which will freshen breath.
- Avoid foods that are likely to cause tooth decay such as candies and sticky sweets
- Do not smoke. Tobacco breath is very unpleasant.
- Once a week, rinse your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide. Purchase a new toothbrush periodically.
If we follow the guidelines given above, we should never hear the sad words, “I SMELLED YOUR BAD BREATH FROM THE FRONT SEAT!” Love, Grandma Donna
KALE-VEGETABLE SOUP
soak 1 lb pkg washed garbanzo beans overnight
cook beans with 8 c extra water
4-6 c diced potatoes
3 sliced carrots
8 c chopped kale
1 qt tomatoes
8 c broth or water
1 large diced onion
3 cloves garlic minced
1/2 t basil
3 sprigs parsley
1 bay leaf
1 t salt
Cook the soaked garbanzo beans in extra water until done. Simmer
onions, garlic and carrots in 1 cup of the broth. Add the rest of the
broth, the potatoes and kale and simmer until tender. Add remaining
ingredients plus about 4 cups of the cooked beans. Simmer 15 minutes.
JOHNNY CORN CAKES
2 c whole grain cornmeal
2 c rolled oats
1 t salt
1/2 c unsweetened coconut
1/2 c raisins
1 c applesauce or mashed banana
1 1/4 c hot water
Mix all ingredients together. Let stand a few minutes then
spoon into sprayed muffin tins. Bake @ 350 for 45 minutes
until bottom of cakes are golden brown.