Halitosis or bad breath is a common occurrence especially after a long night’s sleep, a party or a food binge. While mints, mouth washes and chewing gum mask bad breath temporarily, it is important to work towards curing it so that your teeth, gums, tongue and gastrointestinal tract are not damaged by harmful bacteria that cause halitosis by feeding off food particles.
Besides poor hygiene, bad breath is also a result of systemic infection in the lungs or gastrointestinal tract. Diabetes and sinus infections also cause halitosis. In such cases, medical guidance must be sought as soon as possible to fight the infection. When bad breath is due to poor brushing, bad eating habits, junk food binges, excess alcohol intake and poor water intake habits, the following list of cures for bad breath will help you combat halitosis for fresh, pleasant smelling breath everywhere and all the time.
For those unaware of the chief causes of bad breath, the foods you eat or drink can cause or eliminate halitosis. Foods that are digested and absorbed into the bloodstream are carried to the lungs and released in the form of foul odors. The odors remain till the food is completely ejected from the body. Malodorous breath can be fought with a few simple, easy to incorporate practices and foods in your everyday life for sweet smelling breath and a fresh mouth cavity.
8 Effective Ways To Cure Bad Breath
Drink More Water
Dehydration is the most common cause for bad breath. Tiny microbes in the mouth and throat feed off loose food particles stuck in the teeth or on the tongue and release by-products that are odorous and bad for the teeth. The body’s natural defense system against these microbes is acidic saliva that eliminates them. However, with a poor intake of water, saliva production is reduced leaving the mouth dry, leading to bad breath that is not eliminated despite frequent consumption of mint or other odor fighting agents.
The effect of natural enzymes in the saliva that stimulate the production of bacteria neutralizing antibodies is reduced due to lack of water in the body. Dry mouth is caused by dead cells decomposing on the tongue releasing foul odors. One of the best remedies for bad breath is to drink good quantities of water and keep yourself well hydrated throughout the day. Consuming adequate quantities of water leads to good saliva production and hence keeps your breath fresh. After every meal, rinse your mouth well with water to clear away loose food particles.
Tea
A cup of tea twice a day can control and prevent bad breath.Polyphenol found in black tea and green tea stops the growth of the bacteria responsible for unpleasant breath.
Herbal tea with alfalfa is especially effective when you want to get rid of bad breath. Those interested in herbal tea can add two teaspoons of dried alfalfa leaves to boiling water and let it steep for fifteen minutes. Along with the health benefits of herbal tea, your breath will also remain fresh.
Clean Your Tongue
In addition to your teeth, you must clean your tongue. This works as a simple yet effective bad breath cure. Bacteria feeding off food particles on your teeth release pungent smelling odors that give you bad breath. For sweet-smelling or pleasant breath you should make it a habit to clean your tongue after brushing your teeth.
The rough surface of your tongue houses many food particles, dead cells, bacteria and by-products of breaking down that food debris. Brush your tongue with a toothbrush or get a tongue cleaner to clear away unwanted particles in your mouth after your daily teeth-brushing routine. Tongue cleaners are and more effective than toothbrushes given their wide surface area that remove debris faster and cover more area.
Cloves
Cloves are among the most effective natural bad breath cures. They are known to be a powerful antiseptic property that that does away with bad breath. Chew a few pieces of cloves after a meal to rid yourself of unpleasant mouth odors.
You will find that your breath is fresh within a few minutes of chewing a clove. Another remedy for bad breath is to consume clove tea by adding three cloves to two cups of boiling water, allowing it to steep for twenty minutes and stir it for a few minutes. You may drink the tea or use it as a mouthwash for sweet smelling breath.
Rinse After Eating And Drinking
Among the easiest and most effective cures for bad breath is to rinse your mouth after every meal and beverage you consume. Coffee, soft drinks, soda, alcohol and other acidic beverages release compounds and by-products of digestion to your bloodstream which result in malodors in your mouth.
Acidic beverages reduce the pH level in your mouth allowing bacteria to flourish and work on loose food particles to release odorous sulfurous compounds, resulting in unpleasant breath. Avoid consuming acidic beverages or rinse your mouth thoroughly to freshen your breath. Rinsing your mouth with water washes away acidic compounds, raising the pH to normal levels.
Baking Soda
Another way to cure bad breath is by using baking soda. Baking soda reduces acidity in your mouth and prevents bacteria from growing on your tongue. It changes the pH level in your mouth by lowering it from the previous acidic pH, caused by consuming beverages and acidic foods, which does not allow bacteria to flourish.
All you have to do is add a bit of baking soda paste to your toothbrush and brush your teeth with it for pleasant breath. Rinse thoroughly after brushing with plain water.
Lemon
If you are unsure of how to cure bad breath, lemon rinse is a quick fix one can use for pleasant odor in the mouth. The natural strong acidic content of lemon is known to prevent the growth of bacteria on the gums and tongue.
You can also rinse with lemon juice by mixing one tablespoon of lemon juice in a cup of water and using the solution to rinse your mouth properly. A solution of salt, lemon and water is an excellent rinse before you go to bed to prevent bacteria growth and leave your mouth smelling fresh even after eight to nine hours of sleep.
Eat Citrus Fruits
For those unfamiliar with what cures bad breath, a dry mouth is often the most common cause of bad breath. This can be countered by eating citrus fruits like tomatoes and orange and drinking lemon juice.
Citric acid present in these fruits stimulates the production of saliva which suppresses bacterial growth in the mouth and prevents bad breath.
Use these cures for bad breath to rid yourself of unpleasant odors and experience pleasant breath wherever you are!
Caution: Please use Home Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.