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MoreBad breath can be unpleasant for both those who suffer from it and those around them affected by it. It is commonly known that poor dental hygiene causes most cases of bad breath. In addition to improving your home care routine, you can cut down on bad breath by regular visits to the dentist for cleanings and by paying a bit more attention to your diet.
Correct Daily Care
Simply brushing your teeth regularly doesn’t contribute to an effective teeth-cleaning routine. You’ll need to include flossing after brushing. Flossing daily helps dislodge small pieces of food that may be stuck between your teeth. These food bits can have a foul odor, so it is best to get them out of your mouth. You should also scrape or brush your tongue daily to help remove any germs lurking after cleaning, making sure to rinse and get all the extra saliva out of your mouth after scraping. Take care in brushing; make sure you reach every tooth sometimes the ones at the back are forgotten.
Fennel
Fennel seeds are a great, natural way to freshen your breath. They work to fight bacteria because they contain antimicrobial properties. You can use fennel seed in a couple of ways. If you enjoy the raw taste, chew a tablespoon of fennel seeds. This freshens your breath and stimulates saliva. If you prefer a drink, brew up a cup of tea with one to two tablespoons of fennel seeds. Steep for five to 10 minutes, then remove the seeds and enjoy your tea. Drink this a couple of times a day.
Cinnamon
Using cinnamon to create a mouthwash is a great use of the spice to help fight bad breath. Cinnamaldehyde is an essential oil found in cinnamon which can reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth and help bad breath. To make a cinnamon mouthwash, boil one teaspoon of cinnamon powder in a cup of water, strain and let cool. Adding a bay leaf and some cardamom may make the brew taste a bit more like a blend, rather than straight cinnamon. Use freshly brewed cinnamon mouthwash twice daily.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is an annual herb found in the Mediterranean. Used in cooking or as a natural medicine, it is successful in treating bad breath and halitosis. To drink as a tea, boil one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in one cup of water. Strain and drink once a day. You can also drink it as a cold drink. After you have boiled and strained the seeds from the water, allow the water to cool, then drink. Drink one cup every morning to help freshen the breath.
Cloves
Cloves are a fragrant spice that can improve your breath, as well as provide pain relief from gum conditions and infections. To benefits from cloves, pop four or five pieces of cloves in your mouth and have a chew. You can, of course, also make a tea by boiling one teaspoon of ground cloves, strain and drink as a warm drink or let it cool to use as a daily mouthwash.
Parsley
Often used as a simple garnish for a meal, parsley has naturally occurring antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties and is very beneficial to eat. These health properties are formed in the parsley plant by the chlorophyll it contains, which is also what makes parsley so green. Chlorophyll is a deodorizer, and therefore the perfect herb to munch to fight bad breath. Chewing a small handful will freshen your breath. However, this is a temporary fix, so you’ll need to work with some more permanent natural remedies to really see long-lasting relief from bad breath.
Lemon
Lemons are great defenders of oral hygiene. Not only does the strong lemon smell mask any odor, but the acidic content in lemons make them solid fighters of bacteria growth in the mouth. As well as simply sucking on a wedge of lemon, you can use it as a mouthwash by squeezing one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice into a cup of water. Use this to swell and gargle. You can even add a dash of salt to the fluid and gain even more health benefits. Using this solution also helps to prevent dry mouth.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is universally used as a natural cleaning agent. To fight bad breath, you can brush with baking soda instead of toothpaste, just mix the powder with a tiny bit of water to make a paste and use that. Using it as a mouthwash every day also works well. Half a teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of water will make a solution to swish around your mouth. This creates an oxygenating action inside the mouth that will destroy bacteria and help fight bad breath. Note that baking soda is very abrasive and can damage the surface of the teeth if it is not dissolved completely before use.
Zinc
A zinc deficiency in the body is a common cause of bad breath for many, many people. The mineral zinc helps eliminate bacteria in the mouth and taking it regularly can benefit halitosis sufferers. Take zinc either in tablet form or integrate it into your diet by eating foods rich in zinc. Good sources include spinach, mushrooms, wheat germ, pumpkin and squash seeds, nuts, pork, beef, lamb, beef, and beans.
Gum
Chewing gum is often thought to be a quick fix to help bad breath because of the minty flavor in most chewing gum. It is true your breath become minty fresh when you are chewing, but the act also has other benefits. Chewing gum stimulates saliva, which is good for fighting dental bacteria. For chewing gum to be beneficial you must only chew gums that are sugar-free; otherwise, you are only adding to the growth of bacteria. Chewing gum also helps to stabilize heartburn.
