It’s difficult to know if you have bad breath unless you come into contact with someone committed to serving up harsh truths. However, you came to the realization that you may have a problem, there is good news. The majority of the time, it’s easily fixed with a few changes and home remedies.
Rarely is it halitosis, which is defined as chronic bad breath that can’t be fixed with something like brushing. Here are a few home remedies for addressing that ordinary bad breath problem.
Common causes of bad breath
Poor dental hygiene
If you don’t brush and floss often, the bacteria in your mouth continue to grow and plaque builds up on your teeth. This plaque causes bad breath as it accumulates on your teeth.
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Other illness
90% of bad breath originates in the mouth but there are instances when it can be caused by a problem elsewhere in the body. Other illnesses that can cause it include –
- Digestive problems like ulcers and acid reflux
- Diabetes complications
- Kidney disease
- Sinus problems
- Infection like bronchitis or pneumonia
- Oral yeast infection
- Liver disease
- Starting a new diet such as the keto diet
Home remedies for bad breath
Warm saltwater rinse
Saline solution can prevent the build-up of infectious bacteria in the throat or mouth. Gargle it to help fight bad breath.
Baking soda
It fights bad breath by re-balancing the acid levels in your mouth. Gargle or brush with it. Add a ½ tsp of baking soda to a half cup of warm water, stir until it dissolves then gargle it. To brush with it, make a paste with some warm water and baking soda then brush with it as you normally would.
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Cinnamon
Cinnamon contains cinnamic aldehyde, an essential oil that covers bad breath and reduces the number of bacteria in your mouth. It also has antimicrobial properties. Boil one teaspoon of cinnamon powder in a cup of water then use that water as a mouth rinse. You can also add bay leaves and cardamom if you wish.
Health: 7 Benefits Of Cinnamon
Parsley
Tradition has it that the chlorophyll content in parsley can have a deodorizing effect. To use it as a remedy for bad breath, chew on fresh leaves after each meal or take a parsley dietary supplement. Other leaves that work just as well are basil, mint, and cilantro.
Lemon
Chew a piece of clean lemon or orange rind for a mouth freshening burst of flavour. The citric acid fights bad breath by stimulating the salivary glands. You can also make lemon juice and use it as a mouth rinse. To make the rinse, stir one tablespoon of lemon juice into a cup of water. If you wish, you can ass a bit of salt to it.
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Cloves
Cloves have antibacterial properties which help fight bad breath. For instant elimination of bad breath, thoroughly chew a few pieces of cloves. Another way is to make clove tea. Add a teaspoon of ground cloves to one cup of boiling water and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
Apple cider vinegar has pH-balancing properties that make it a wonderful remedy for bad breath. Stir one tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar into a glass of water and drink it before meals. The Apple Cider Vinegar cures bad breath and helps in digestion too.
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Pineapple juice
Anecdotal evidence suggests that pineapple juice is the quickest, most effective treatment for bad breath. Drink a glass of organic juice after every meal or chew on a pineapple slice or two. Remember to rinse your mouth of the sugar afterwards.
Oregano oil
Oregano oil has antibiotics that destroy harmful bacteria and prevent them from reproducing. You can mix a few drops of it with your toothpaste every time you brush.
Another way is to mix a few drops of oregano oil in a glass of water and use it as a mouthwash. You can also dilute oregano oil with equal parts of pure olive oil then place the oil under your tongue for 3 minutes before swallowing. Tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and lemon oil work just as well as oregano oil in fighting bad breath.
Water
Research shows that one cause of bad breath is mouth dryness. One way to prevent dry mouth is to keep your body hydrated by drinking water throughout the day. Water encourages saliva production which is key because saliva helps keep your mouth clean which prevents bacteria from thriving.
7 Tricks For Keeping Yourself Hydrated Every Day
The best way to prevent bad breath is to maintain dental hygiene.
Check out
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