Bad breath: 20 natural remedies for bad breath


Bad breath: 20 natural remedies for bad breath
Does bad breath cause you trouble? We present to you the top 20 most efficient natural remedies and treatments to counter bad breath.

Bad breath: 20 natural remedies for bad breath
Bad breath: 20 natural remedies for bad breath

Bad Breath: The 20 Most Effective Natural Remedies and Home Tips

To counter bad breath, we have to adopt daily habits that will prevent the bacteria causing bad breath from proliferating in the mouth. Also, proper brushing of teeth after each meal combined with the use of a good toothpaste and flossing helps to have a fresher breath.

In addition to these healthy dental habits, these natural remedies are especially effective in preventing and controlling bad breath (or halitosis).

1. Drink plenty of water

Dry mouth is a fertile breeding ground for bacteria that cause bad breath. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and circulate it in your lips. In doing so, water acts as a substitute for saliva as it can dislodge malodorous foods from your mouth and teeth. The bacteria will be removed temporarily and your breath will be softer.

2. The essential oil of mint peppermint to counter bad breath

Dose: To fight bad breath, try 1 or 2 drops of this essential oil deposited on the tongue.
Caution: taken in large quantities, the essential oil of peppermint can lead to digestive disorders.

3. Fennel

Dose: Chew a pinch of fennel seeds after meals or when needed to counter bad breath.
Caution: chew carefully to be effective.

4. Parsley

Dose: Chew one sprig of fresh parsley after meals or when needed.
Namely: essential oil of parsley is the main ingredient of some preparations intended to purify the breath.

5. The acidophilus against halitosis

Dose: Take one capsule twice a day to promote healthy digestion and better counter bad breath.
Namely: can be replaced with acidophilus yogurt.

6. Spirulina and other seaweed-based foods

Dose: Try to rinse your mouth with drinks and tablets made from seaweed, such as spirulina.
Namely: these plants and products promote the proliferation of “good” bacteria in the large intestine. The same goes for Acidophilus and Bifidus, which contribute to the proper balance of intestinal flora. Poor digestion can cause a foul odor emanating from your mouth.

7. Seeds of fennel, dill, cardamom or anise

Masquer seeds of fennel, dill, cardamom or anise to counter bad breath. Anise, which resembles that of black liquorice, can destroy the bacteria present on the tongue.

8. Try the clove and cinnamon

The Clove is rich in eugenol, the essential oil with powerful antibacterial properties. Only put one in your mouth and bite into it until the essential oil spills out, moving it if necessary with your tongue to avoid irritation of the mucous membrane. Then rescue it. Do not use pure essential oil or nail powder, which are very powerful and could cause inflammation and burns. Also, try sucking a stick of cinnamon. Like cinnamon, cinnamon is antiseptic.

9. Scrape your tongue to prevent and fight bad breath

Your tongue may be coated with bacteria that ferment proteins, producing smelly gasses. By scraping your tongue, you will dislodge these bacteria which you can then eliminate by rinsing. You can also use a spoon of metal or plastic, placing it at the back of your tongue and pulling it forward. Repeat this gesture four or five times. Do the same on both sides of the tongue.

10. Rinse your mouth with a solution of baking soda and mint

Mix a cup of water with a teaspoon of baking soda and add a few drops of mint essential oil. Baking soda will neutralize the pH of your mouth, while mint will refresh your mouth. Be sure not to swallow this solution and spit it out after it has been circulated a few times in your lips.

11. Eat cheese and yogurt

A piece of cheese after the meal can neutralize some acids that stick to your teeth and give you a fetid breath. A portion of unsweetened yogurt is also beneficial. In a controlled Japanese study, subjects with halitosis consumed yogurt twice a day. The researchers found that the level of hydrogen sulfide, the chemical source of bad breath, had decreased.

Research has also established that vitamin D associated with calcium can be beneficial to the health of the mouth. Canadian dairy products are a good source of calcium and are enriched with vitamin D. However, sharp cheeses, such as Camembert, Rochefort and blue, can make your breath fetid even in the absence of bacteria.

12. Prefer foods that can dislodge residues to prevent halitosis

The soft, sticky foods adhere to the teeth, causing the growth of bacteria and bad odors result. Although they can not replace tooth brushing, fruits such as apples, carrots, and celery help to clean teeth while eating and contribute to dislodge residues that can cause bad breath.

13. Drink mint tea and infusions

The polyphenols in black tea come to rescue your breath in two ways. First, they curb the growth of the bacteria responsible for bad breath. Secondly, they are opposed to the production of malodorous derivatives. Black tea could also help reduce tooth decay.

Drinking large quantities of infusion of peppermint or spearmint and water can also help you fight bad breath and prevent the mouth from drying out.

14. Sugar-free sweets and gums to chase bad breath

Snack foods that increase saliva secretion, such as sweets or sugarless gum, help control bad breath. Also, mint can temporarily mask a bad odor. Cinnamon, on the other hand, can help better neutralize the source. The essential vegetable oil frequently used to flavor candy and cinnamon gum, cinnamon aldehyde, can also tackle the bacteria responsible for bad breath.

15. Eat an orange

The citric acid of the orange stimulates your salivary glands and promotes the formation of saliva, which will refresh your breath. You can also chew small peels of lemon or orange previously washed to stimulate the production of saliva in your mouth.

16. Prefer foods rich in chlorophyll

Like parsley and mint, foods rich in chlorophyll like basil and coriander also help to neutralize bad breath.

17. Try the cider vinegar

If your body does not properly process food, your breath will emit an odor of “rotten food.” To promote healthy digestion, try taking a spoonful of apple cider vinegar before meals.

18. Avoid skipping meals

Avoid skipping meals. Fasting can also cause halitosis, as well as dry mouth, a site conducive to bacterial growth. Therefore, eat regularly and drink water all day long.

19. Matches of sugarless gum

You can also chew gum without sugar to increase your saliva production to prevent your mouth from drying out.

20. Rinse your mouth with an oral irrigator

Use an oral irrigator, a manual device that throws a beautiful jet of water into the mouth to dislodge the bacteria. The plane reaches deeper regions in the gum than the brush or dental floss.

The leading causes of bad breath

Bad breath can be caused mainly by the consumption of tobacco, alcohol or food such as garlic, onion or anchovies, known to leave an unpleasant odor.

Moreover, the drier the mouth, the more the bacteria proliferate and stay there, generating unpleasant odors. In this sense, all that helps to reduce saliva production tends to give bad breath: mouth breathing, aging, and absorption of certain medications. Bad breath can also be related to a medical condition.

Here is an overview of the leading causes of bad breath.

1. Poor oral hygiene

Good dental hygiene remains fundamental to correcting a problem of halitosis. Brush your teeth after each meal and use floss every day. It is the best way to eliminate bacteria in the mouth and between teeth, where bacteria are causing bad breath multiply.

By brushing your teeth without delay, you prevent the development of the plate, soft and sticky film that covers the teeth and gums. Do not forget to replace your toothbrush at regular intervals, as micro-organisms can settle in and infect your mouth.

Regularly clean your teeth at the dentist to minimize plaque buildup. The Canadian Dental Association recommends a dental check-up every six months, but your dentist can lengthen or shorten this period depending on how you brush your teeth.

To preserve your toothbrush bacteria, keep it upside down in a plastic cup with lid, filled with hydrogen peroxide. Rinse well before using.

Also, rub your tongue with the toothbrush or a scraper to get rid of the bacteria that house them. You can also rinse your mouth with a commercial product provided, however, not to abuse it and avoid those with high alcohol content: by drying out your mouth, they could contribute to aggravate the problem.

2. Morning Breath

Saliva is acting as a natural mouthwash. As you sleep, salivation decreases and smelly bacteria begin to multiply. Try to breathe through the nose to prevent your mouth from becoming more dehydrated. At bedtime and awakening, brushing your teeth and using floss will keep your mouth cleaner and fresher.

3. The foods you have eaten can give you bad breath

The foods you eat change your breathing, especially those that have a high aromatic content like onions, alcohol, and garlic. Some types of food can cause bad breath, including meat, sugar, high-fat or high-spiced foods, and sweetened dairy products. Also, foods rich in fructose or very acid can also cause halitosis.

Also, make sure not to skip meals. When you stay fasting for extended periods of time, your mouth dries, creating an environment conducive to the proliferation of bacteria.

4. An infection of the sinuses and allergies

The malodorous bacteria are attracted by the proteins present in mucus and phlegm. When you suffer from a sinus infection, a cold or allergies, your sinuses produce more mucus, thereby attracting the bacteria responsible for halitosis.

5. Gum disease

Paradontolise or gum disease is a bacterial infection affecting the tissues that surround the teeth. Gums that bleed are sometimes signs of gingivitis, an inflammation that gives bad breath. People who suffer from it are more prone to have bad breath because of the accumulation of bacteria.

If you can not get rid of bad breath even by brushing your teeth and using floss every day, the Canadian Dental Association encourages you to consult with your dentist to make sure you do not suffer from a disease Of the gums.

6. Dry mouth

Dry mouth disease or xerostomia occurs when the production of saliva in your mouth decreases. According to the Canadian Dental Association, permanent salivary gland problems or the habit of breathing through the mouth can cause bad breath. Masking sugarless gum can help you salivate and hence chase the bacteria out of your lips, leaving you a fresher breath.

7. Smoking

Not only does smoking leave an ash-like smell, but smoke changes salivation: your mouth becomes drier. Even worse, the chemicals found in cigarettes can also cause bad breath. Smoking can also cause heart disease and several cancers, including that of the mouth.

8. Untreated health problems

Persistent bad breath can reveal serious health concerns. Also, respiratory tract infection, chronic sinusitis, post-nasal discharge, chronic bronchitis, diabetes or gastrointestinal disorders. Consult your dentist or belly doctor to determine the causes of bad breath that persists.

9. Dental prostheses

Food particles and bacteria can lodge between prostheses and gums. Bacteria by growing and food particles by fragmenting produce bad odors. To combat these bacteria, it is recommended to remove and clean dental prostheses after each meal and gently brush the gums.

10. Language Hygiene

The surface of the tongue acts as a kind of carpet where food particles, bacteria, and post-nasal secretions can accumulate, thus forming a sort of potting soil where bacteria multiply. The tongue cleaner or tongue scraper is more efficient than the toothbrush to remove the case, a pasty matter that accumulates on the surface of the tongue. Clean your tongue regularly: this could significantly improve your breath.

When should a doctor or dentist be consulted?

As embarrassing as it may sound, talk to your dentist or doctor about your bad breath problem. Also, ask your doctor if any of the medications you are taking may cause your breathing to become fetid. Any medication that dries up the mouth and, therefore, deprives it of saliva, may exert this effect, including antihistamines, decongestants or over-the-counter diet pills, as well as prescription medications for depression and hypertension.

If the problem persists despite your care, the dentist or doctor can find a medical reason – gum disease or sinusitis, for example. Before taking any natural supplements or remedies, consult your doctor.


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