Halitosis
Oral malodor refers to a person perceiving an unpleasant or abnormal taste or odor in the mouth, or an abnormal odor that can be detected by others. Common examples include bad breath and sour or putrid odors, as well as a sticky or bland taste and abnormal sour, bitter, pungent, sweet, or salty tastes. Oral malodor is a clinical symptom, although in some cases it is the primary complaint. Western medicine considers oral malodor to result from the growth of anaerobic bacteria in the mouth and the production of sulfur compounds due to various causes. Treatment primarily focuses on addressing the underlying condition and maintaining oral hygiene. In TCM, oral malodor is considered a result of dysfunction in the internal organs. It may be associated with certain oral, nasal, or pharyngeal conditions, as well as respiratory or digestive disorders, and is mainly related to impaired Spleen and Stomach function, emotional distress, and excessive fatigue. It is particularly closely associated with the Spleen and Stomach. In TCM, this condition falls within categories such as “fishy or foul odor,” “foul breath,” and “foul odor in the mouth.”
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Foul, hot-smelling breath; foul-smelling drooling; fullness and oppression in the epigastrium; reduced appetite and food intake; dry mouth without desire to drink; heaviness and fatigue; unsatisfactory bowel movements; dark yellow urine; red tongue with a yellow, greasy coating; slippery, rapid pulse
In Plain Language:
- Strong-smelling breath with a foul, hot odor; saliva may also smell unpleasant
- A feeling of fullness and discomfort in the upper abdomen (stomach area)
- Poor appetite and eating less than usual
- Dry mouth but little desire to drink
- A heavy feeling in the body, with tiredness and low energy
- Difficulty passing stool or a sensation of incomplete evacuation
- Urine that is darker yellow than usual
- A reddish tongue with a yellow, thick, sticky coating
- A relatively rapid, slippery pulse (as noted during a clinical examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Clear heat and resolve dampness; regulate qi and harmonize the Stomach
In Plain Language:
- Use methods intended to clear heat and resolve dampness, addressing internal “heat” and “dampness” and easing discomfort such as a stuffy, sticky feeling, bitter or sticky taste, fatigue and heaviness, and a thick, greasy tongue coating.
- At the same time, regulate the movement of qi to support smoother digestive function and ease upper abdominal fullness or oppression, belching, acid reflux, nausea, and poor appetite.
|Related Products
The products listed below are for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Hot, foul-smelling breath; mouth or tongue ulcers; dry mouth and toothache; flushed face and red lips; irritability and insomnia; constipation; red tongue with a yellow coating
In Plain Language:
- Breath that smells unpleasant and seems hot
- Frequent ulcers in the mouth or on the tongue
- Dry mouth and toothache
- A flushed face and relatively red lips
- Irritability and poor sleep
- Dry, hard stools and constipation
- A reddish tongue with a yellow coating
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Clear Stomach heat and drain fire
In Plain Language:
- Use cooling, fire-clearing methods to reduce excessive “fire” in the Stomach and ease discomfort such as dry mouth and thirst, bad breath, red, swollen, painful gums, mouth ulcers, burning pain in the upper abdomen, and acid reflux.
- At the same time, regulate Stomach qi to support digestion and ease symptoms such as feeling hungry easily, irritability, belching and heartburn, constipation, and a thick yellow tongue coating.
|Related Products
The products listed below are for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Sour, putrid breath; frequent belching; abdominal and epigastric distention and fullness; foul-smelling stools resembling rotten eggs; a dirty, greasy tongue coating; thin, wiry, slippery pulse
In Plain Language:
- A persistent sour, unpleasant smell in the mouth
- Frequent belching with an unpleasant odor
- A persistent feeling of bloating and discomfort in the stomach and abdomen
- Very foul-smelling stools, like spoiled eggs
- A thick, dirty-looking coating on the tongue
- A thin, wiry pulse, which may be described in TCM as indicating indigestion and food stagnation
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Reduce food stagnation and relieve obstruction; harmonize the Stomach and direct counterflow downward
In Plain Language:
- Use methods intended to support digestion and address food accumulation, helping clear “food stagnation” and “obstruction” in the stomach and intestines and ease discomfort such as post-meal fullness, abdominal bloating or pain, strong-smelling breath, sour or putrid-tasting belching, constipation, or difficult bowel movements.
- At the same time, regulate Stomach function and direct “upward-reversing” qi downward to ease upper abdominal fullness or oppression, acid reflux, belching, nausea, and vomiting, and support appetite and digestion.
|Related Products
The products listed below are for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Bad breath, sometimes accompanied by belching and acid regurgitation; epigastric distention or pain; fullness and distention in both flanks; poor appetite; red tongue; wiry, rapid pulse
In Plain Language:
- An unpleasant odor in the mouth, often accompanied by belching and acid reflux
- A feeling of fullness or mild pain in the stomach area
- Fullness or discomfort along both sides of the rib cage
- Poor appetite or little desire to eat
- A reddish tongue
- A relatively rapid, tense pulse, described in TCM as possibly reflecting disharmony between the Liver and Stomach or impaired digestive function
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Clear Liver heat and regulate qi and harmonize the Stomach
In Plain Language:
- Use methods intended to clear the Liver and reduce fire, dispelling “stagnant fire” and heat in the Liver and easing discomfort such as distention and pain along the ribs, bitter or dry mouth, red eyes, irritability, and headache or head pressure.
- At the same time, regulate the flow of qi and digestive function, directing “upward-rising qi” downward to ease upper abdominal fullness or oppression, belching, acid reflux, nausea, poor appetite, and hiccups.
|Related Products
The products listed below are for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Foul breath; nasal congestion and sore throat; or chronic sinusitis with reduced or absent sense of smell; or cough and wheezing with expectoration of purulent phlegm; red tongue with a yellow coating
In Plain Language:
- A noticeable foul odor in the mouth
- Frequent nasal congestion and a sore throat
- Chronic sinusitis may occur, with a reduced or absent sense of smell
- May be accompanied by cough or wheezing
- Phlegm brought up by coughing may be purulent and thick
- A red tongue with a yellow coating; in TCM, this may be interpreted as signs of internal heat or inflammation
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Clear Lung heat and drain it outward
In Plain Language:
- Use cooling, fire-clearing methods to clear and disperse accumulated “heat” in the Lungs and ease discomfort such as fever, sore or swollen throat, cough, thick yellow phlegm, chest tightness, and dry mouth.
- At the same time, promote the normal movement of Lung qi and provide some moistening, to support easier breathing and help bring up phlegm, and ease wheezing, thick yellow nasal discharge, and hoarseness.
|Related Products
The products listed below are for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Bad breath; loose teeth; soreness and weakness in the legs and knees; red tongue with little coating; thin, rapid pulse, among other signs
In Plain Language:
- An unpleasant odor in the mouth
- Teeth that are becoming loose or feel unstable
- Aching, weakness, or lack of strength in the legs and knees
- A red tongue with very little coating
- A thin, relatively rapid pulse, described in TCM as possibly indicating general weakness or Kidney yin deficiency
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Nourish Kidney yin and clear deficiency heat
In Plain Language:
- Use nourishing and moistening methods to replenish Kidney fluids and help the body stay “moisturized,” easing discomfort such as aching, weak lower back and knees, dry mouth or throat, tinnitus, and insomnia with vivid dreams.
- At the same time, clear internal “deficiency fire” to ease intermittent feelings of heat and night sweats, as well as warmth in the palms and soles, irritability, and flushed cheeks.
|Related Products
The products listed below are for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
References
- Xu Fanxing, Li Xiaoyu, Liu He, et al. Research progress on the etiology and treatment of oral-origin halitosis [J]. Progress in Modern Biomedicine, 2011, 11(4): 791-794.
- Wen Zhixin, Wu Shiqing. Research on related causes and treatment of halitosis [J]. Journal of Clinical Stomatology, 2010, 26(4): 241-243.
- Cicek Y, Orbak R, Tezel A, et al. Effect of tongue brushing on oralmalodorin adolescents[J]. Pediatr Int，2003，45(6)：719-723.
- Delanghe G, Ghyselen J, Bollen C, et al. An inventoryof patients’ response to treatment at a multidisciplinarybreath odor clinic[J]. Quintessence Int，1999，30(5)：307-310.
- Zhang Yu, Chen Xi, Feng Xiping. The relationship between gastrointestinal diseases and halitosis [J]. International Journal of Stomatology, 2014, 41(6): 703-706.
- Sun Hongyan. Study on the relationship between TCM patterns and treatment of halitosis [J]. World Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 2014, 9(2): 126-129.