Home remedies for bad breath

Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Basically, all the food you eat begins to be broken down in your mouth. As foods are digested and absorbed into your bloodstream, they are eventually carried to your lungs and given off in your breath. If you eat foods with strong odors (such as garlic or onions), brushing and flossing -- even mouthwash -- merely covers up the odor temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body.

Why should I be aware of this?

When we don't clean or brush our teeth properly after meals bacteria starts feeding on the left over food. It releases sulphur compounds that makes the breath smell. If your halitosis hangs on for more than 24 hours without an obvious cause, call your dentist or doctor, says Roger P. Levin, D.D.S. It can be a sign of gum disease, gastrointestinal problems, sinus infection, bronchitis, or even more serious diseases, such as diabetes, liver or kidney failure, and cancer. Bad breath can also be a sign of dehydration or zinc deficiency.

Home remedies using tea

Drink tea. Preliminary research suggests that compounds in both green and black tea called polyphenols may stop the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath. Polyphenols may also prevent existing bacteria from producing malodorous compounds such as hydrogen sulfide. Both green and black tea have polyphenols. Get some tips on how to brew green tea.

Home remedies using fruits

Bad Breath Home Remedy Using Apple Cider Vinegar Apple Cider Vinegar has recently been used as an effective mouthwash that provides long-lasting relief from bad breath. Simply dilute 1/2 tablespoon of the vinegar into a glass of water and gargle it in your mouth for 10 seconds at a time.

Bad breath is often simply the result of a dry mouth. If this is the case, simply eating a citrus fruit that is high in citric acid (such as an orange, lemon, or grapefruit) can help improve your breath significantly. The acid in such fruits stimulates the saliva, which helps suppress some of the odor-causing bacteria. At the same time, the tangy taste of such fruits leaves the mouth smelling fresh.

Remedies using kitchen ingredients

Bad Breath Home Remedy Using Baking Soda Baking soda is a fantastic remedy for bad breath, since it changes the pH (acidity) level in your mouth, which results in a less friendly environment for odor-causing bacteria. Simply add some baking soda onto your toothbrush, brush with it, and then rinse with water. Another option is to purchase toothpastes that already contain a small amount of baking soda. It is also important to brush the top of your tongue with your toothbrush every morning, since this helps dislodge many odorous particles that contribute to bad breath.

Remedies using natural oils

Herbal Remedy for Bad Breath with Tea Tree Oil Tea Tree Oil, is a natural cure for bad breath when used as a toothpaste additive. Simply add a drop of the oil to your toothpaste right before you brush.

You can also create a Tea Tree Oil mouthwash by adding 3 drops of the oil to a cup of warm water. Gargle this solution two to three times a day, preferably after each meal.

NOTE: It is important that you always spit out the Tea Tree Oil mouthwash or toothpaste. Never swallow it.

Preventive measure

Spice things up Other herbs and spices in your kitchen are natural breath enhancers. Carry a tiny plastic bag of cloves, fennel, or anise seeds to chew after odorous meals.

Brush your tongue "Most people overlook their tongues," says Dr. Shapira. "Your tongue is covered with little hairlike projections, which under a microscope look like a forest of mushrooms. Under the caps of the 'mushrooms,' there's room to harbor plaque and some of the things we eat. That causes bad breath."

His advice? While brushing, gently sweep the top of your tongue, too, so that you don't leave food and bacteria behind to breed bad breath.

Create your own gargle Mix extracts of sage, calendula, and myrrh gum (all available at health food stores) in equal proportions and gargle with the mixture four times a day. Keep the mouthwash in a tightly sealed jar at room temperature.

Advertise | AdChoicesAdvertise | AdChoicesAdvertise | AdChoices. Even when you can't brush, you can rinse. Take a sip of water after meals, swish it around, and wash the smell of food from your mouth, says Jerry F. Taintor, D.D.S.

Eat your parsley Parsley adds more than green to your lunch plate; it's also a breath-saver, because it contains chlorophyll, a known breath deodorizer. So pick up that sprig garnishing your plate and chew it thoroughly. Or toss a few handfuls (even add some watercress to the mix) in a juicer. Sip the juice anytime you need to refresh your breath.

Watch your intake of odorous eats Highly spiced foods like to linger long after the party's over. Certain tastes and smells recirculate through the essential oils that they leave in your mouth. Depending on how much you eat, the odor can remain up to 24 hours, no matter how often you brush your teeth. Some foods to avoid include onions, hot peppers, and garlic.

Ease up on cheese Camembert, Roquefort, and blue cheese are called strong for good reason—they get a hold on your breath and don't let go. Other dairy products may have the same effect.

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Carry a toothbrush

• Use herbs to freshen your breath. Chew on a small sprig of fresh rosemary, parsley, spearmint, or tarragon for up to a minute.

Natural Remedy for Bad Breath Using Citrus Fruits

What can I do?

• Try a mouthwash containing zinc ions. Zinc appears to directly neutralize malodorous sulfur compounds and improve breath. It's found in several health food store mouthwashes as well as some drug store brands.

• Use a tongue scraper, which helps to remove dead cells, food particles and bacteria from the tongue. A tongue scaper is a special plastic instrument found in drug stores and some health food stores, that costs several dollars. In Ayurveda, a thick coating on the tongue is called "ama" and is thought to be caused by improper or incomplete digestion. Tongue cleaning with a scaper is recommended as a daily regimen to remove ama. The key is to do it gently and to rinse your mouth thoroughly afterward. If you can't find a tongue scraper, use a toothbrush to clean your tongue.

• Drink plenty of fluids. Drinking water and other fluids will help keep your mouth moist. Another reason drinking fluids might help: In traditional Chinese medicine, bad breath is often the result of excess heat in the stomach. Water, soup and watery fruits and vegetables, such as cucumber, are thought to help to rebalance the body.

• According to traditional Chinese medicine, bitter foods, such as Belgian endive and many dark green leafy vegetables are also believed to help stomach heat. Certain foods, such as coffee, alcohol, sugar, milk and fried or spicy foods are thought to worsen the problem.

• Snack on crunchy fruits and vegetables such as apples, celery, carrots or jicama. Crunchy foods can help remove food, bacteria and plaque from teeth.

• Try a mouthwash that contains essential oils. Preliminary studies suggest that essential oils, which are plant oils, may help to reduce bad breath. One study compared an essential oil mouthwash containing tea tree oil, peppermint oil and lemon oil to a standard mouthwash and found that the level of volatile sulfur compounds was significantly less after the essential oil mouthwash compared to the conventional mouthwash. It's best to use a commercially-prepared product (check the health food store) rather than buying essential oils and making your own mouthwash. If in doubt, consult your dentist.

• Avoid mouthwashes with alcohol. Alcohol can dry out the mouth, which contributes to bad breath.

References

• What is bad breath?
• Bad breath Home Remedy
• Home remedies using bad breath