Halitosis can be very embarrassing. Oftentimes, suffers of Halitosis will have horrendous breath no matter what they eat. While many people view this as a sign of poor dental hygiene, this is not always the case.
Remedies
Halitosis is actually quite easy to correct and anyone suffering from Halitosis will be able to find long-lasting relief without having to go to the dentist or take medications. The following home remedies for Halitosis have been shown to be very effective and have virtually no side effects associated with them.
Brushing Daily
Has your dentist told you that you need to brush your teeth more often? Well, this is not just going to ensure that plaque and tartar are kept at bay, it is also necessary for reducing bad breath. Food particles can become stuck in your teeth and will start to rot causing you to have foul smelling breath. The worst part is that you will not even be able to smell your bad breath.
Brushing adequately will help you ensure that your dental habits are not causing bad breath to worsen. A few tips for proper brushing include:
1. Brush 2 – 3 times per day ideally after each meal.
2. Spend 30 seconds brushing each of the 4 quadrants of the mouth.
3. If possible, purchase an electric toothbrush as they are more effective than their manual counterparts.
4. Brush your tongue. Bacteria growth on the tongue is indicated by white or yellowish film and is the leading cause of bad breath.
By brushing for just 4 – 6 minutes per day, you will be able to put a stop to bad breath once and for all.
Drink a lot of Water
Bacteria thrives in a warm environment. Have you ever woken up from your sleep to find that your breath is now horrible? Everyone has experienced this before and it all has to do with saliva production. When you sleep, you will produce less saliva and ultimately start to grow bacteria in your mouth. Saliva is packed with oxygen and slows the growth of bacteria greatly.
Anyone that does not keep their body hydrated properly will have less saliva in their mouth and ultimately have bad breath as a result.
What can you do to boost saliva production? Drink more water. The amount of water you need to drink is always going to be debated, but a good rule of thumb is drink a cup of water every 1 – 2 hours. This will keep your saliva production maximized leading to better smelling breath.
Drink Green Tea
Are you tired of everyone mentioning that you should be drinking green tea regularly? While green tea may being pushed down your throat, there is a lot of truth behind its claims. Green tea is fantastic for your body and can actually help boost your immune system and fight numerous illnesses.
When it comes to bad breath, green tea is extremely potent and will keep your breath smelling great all throughout the day. While you might think the tea is just masking the scent of bad breath, it actually has antibacterial compounds. This will not only fight bad breath, it will inhibit the growth of bacteria.
For those that want a more scientific explanation, green tea includes Chlorophyll. This green pigment has been shown by Duke University to neutralize odors produced by the body with the inclusion of bad breath.
If you want to make your tea more potent, you can add mint or cinnamon to produce a better taste and make your breath smell better in the process.
Two to three cups per day is recommended.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is the ultimate cleaner and you can actually use it to get rid of bad breath. This is a simple technique and will require more brushing.
Place a bit of baking soda in a container, dip your toothbrush into the baking soda and brush your teeth and tongue. This will destroy bacteria and doesn’t require toothpaste.
Mouthwash
Natural mouthwashes are made to destroy bacteria. Using mouthwash 2 times per day is recommended and will help you reduce bad breath. If you want to make your own mouthwash at home, you can do so by:
1. Adding mint, cardamom, fennel or other spices to one cup of water.
2. Place the water in your mouth without swallowing.
3. Swish the water around your mouth for a minimum of 20 seconds and spit it out.
Mouthwash is also meant to remove food particles stuck in your teeth in the same manner that flossing does. While you may be tempted to buy mouthwash, water mixtures have been shown to be as effective and are far cheaper than the alternatives.
Halitosis can cause you to be embarrassed and keep your mouth closed at all times. If you have tried the remedies above to no avail, you may have a medical condition and should consult with your dentist.
