You meet up with a friend. You say hi. And your friend smiles back. You start a conversation with your friend but she doesn’t seem to be interested in talking to you. She ends the conversation immediately, saying she needs to go. You say goodbye but you can’t help wonder why she was fidgeting with her handkerchief, her hands edging closer and closer to her nose.
You might not have noticed it, but your friend was obviously saying you had bad breath. Yes, you probably have bad breath and that’s why she couldn’t help but end the conversation and cover her nose. You are probably feeling embarrassed now. Having bad breath is indeed an embarrassing thing. And having someone tell you, directly or indirectly, that you have bad breath can make the whole situation even worse. Good thing, there are some natural ways to treat a bad case of odorous breath. So, what are the natural remedies for bad breath?
Bad breath
Bad breath is known medically as halitosis. There are various causes for halitosis, or bad breath. Some halitosis cases are caused by the food you eat. As we are all very familiar of, there are various foods with strong smells that stick in your mouth even hours after you have eaten it. Smoking can also cause bad breath. But the most common cause of bad breath that is quite difficult to remedy is an oral infection. Gum diseases like gingivitis are among the most common oral infections. Other causes of bad breath are dehydration and gastric problems. Ultimately, bad breath is due to poor oral hygiene.
Home remedies for bad breath
The only way to truly rid of bad breath is to target the cause of it. And since there are various causes of bad breath, there are also various ways to treat and remedy bad breath. This is why it is important to know the cause of your halitosis. Below are some natural remedies for bad breath:
• Mint leaves. Ever wondered why most toothpastes are flavored mint? That’s because it gives your mouth a fresh feeling and it also freshens up your breath. Chewing mint leaves is a simply home remedy for bad breath.
• Baking soda in warm water. Baking soda dissolved in water is a great alternative to commercial mouthwash. It cleans up your tongue and the inside of your cheeks. It is a great home remedy for bad breath.
• Lemon with water. This is another alternative solution for a mouthwash. Simply squeeze a lemon into a glass of water and gargle the mixture. Frequent gargling of lemon juice mixed with water is a good way to treat bad breath.
• Apples. An apple a day does not only keep the doctor away. Eating apples every day is good for mouth purification. Apples kill the bacteria causing you bad breath.
• Avocado. The avocado fruit effectively removes the intestinal putrefaction, or decomposition, which is one of the many causes of bad breath.
• Parsley. Parsley is one of the best home remedies for bad breath.
Simply boil two cups of water. Steep this with several sprigs of parsley (coarsely chopped) and 2 to 3 whole cloves or a quarter teaspoon of ground cloves. Stir the mixture as it cools and strain the mixture.
Use the mixture as a mouthwash; gargle several times a day.
• Water. Water keeps you hydrated and so it keeps your mouth from drying up. Dry mouth can cause bad breath.
• Other home remedies include:
- Yogurt
- Pineapple juice
- Cardamom seeds
- Unsweetened tea
- Unripe guava
- Raw fruit and vegetable juices
- Apple cider vinegar as mouthwash
- Tea tree oil as toothpaste additive
It is important to keep your mouth clean. Brush your teeth every after meal or at least two times a day will help you get rid of bad breath and of other dental problems. Gargling with mouthwash and flossing your teeth are also advised. Visit your dentist regularly to get optimum results.
Sources :
http://www.natural-homeremedies.com/homeremedies_bad_breath.htm
http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Halitosis.html
http://www.homeremediesweb.com/bad_breath_home_remedy.php
Related posts: