Bad breath is a serious put off for anyone. Not only is it embarrassing, it is mortifying, should someone point it out to you in public. It can be a huge hit to your confidence, leaving you feeling humiliated. The condition of having bad breath is known as halitosis, and it’s primarily caused by the bacterial buildup on the back of your tongue or in between your teeth.
Reasons for bad breath
The most important reasons for bad breath include:
- Dry mouth
- Gum disease
- Sinusitis
- Smoking
- Certain medical conditions
- Consuming odorous foods
- Poor gut health
- Improper cleaning of your mouth
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Home remedies for halitosis
Overall good oral health and hygiene are important to controlling halitosis. So regular brushing of teeth, cleaning the tongue, and flossing are important for good oral hygiene. However, sometimes despite following these steps religiously, you can’t seem to shake off the bad breath problem. That’s where these simple yet effective home remedies for halitosis come into play. Take a look:
1. Apple cider vinegar
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Apple cider vinegar is an ideal remedy for getting rid of bad breath, thanks to its pH balancing effects.
Remedies
- Stir in 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in 1 cup of water. Use this to gargle twice a day to help eliminate halitosis.
- To 1 glass of water, stir in 1 tablespoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Drink this before your meals to help in digestion as well as combat bad breath. Repeat this remedy as often as needed to get rid of the problem.
2. Baking soda
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Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which helps in getting rid of as well as prevent bad breath, thanks to its ability to balance the acid levels in your mouth. Additionally, it also helps in fighting oral bacteria that cause unpleasant breath.
Remedies
- Stir in half a teaspoon of baking soda in 1 glass of warm water. Use this to rinse your mouth once every day till you get rid of the problem.
- Dip your wet toothbrush in baking soda and use it to brush your teeth once a day, to help get rid of bad breath. It helps in reducing the acidity in your mouth as well as preventing bacterial buildup on your tongue.
3. Cinnamon
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Cinnamon contains an essential oil called cinnamic aldehyde, which helps cover up bad breath, while also helping reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth.
Remedy
- Put 1 cup of water and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to a saucepan. Bring this to a boil and add 1 cardamom and a few bay leaves. Let it simmer for a few minutes, before taking it off the heat. Strain the solution and rinse your mouth with this concoction to keep your breath fresh. Repeat this remedy as needed, preferably twice a day for best results.
4. Cloves
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Cloves are another ingredient that are highly beneficial in helping getting rid of a bad breath. Additionally, they also possess anti-bacterial properties that help in getting rid of bad breath.
Remedies
- Pop 2-3 cloves in your mouth and chew/suck on them thoroughly to get rid of the bad breath in a few minutes.
- Add 1 teaspoon of ground cloves to a clean mug. Now pour 1 cup of boiling water over it and cover it with a lid. Let it steep for 10 minutes. Drink this tea twice a day to help in eliminating the bad breath problem. You could also use this concoction to rinse your mouth twice every day to combat the problem.
5. Fennel
Fennel is a natural mouth freshener, which helps in controlling bad breath. Additionally, thanks to its anti-microbial properties, it helps in combating bacteria that might be causing the bad breath in the first place.
Remedies
- Chew 1 tablespoon of fennel to freshen your breath. It also helps in stimulating production of saliva, thereby curbing bad breath that might be caused by a dry mouth.
- Add 2 teaspoons of fennel seeds to 1 cup of hot water and cover it with a lid. Let it steep for 10 minutes, before straining the liquid. Sip this fennel tea twice a day to get rid of bad breath.
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6. Fenugreek
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Fenugreek is another ingredient that helps in getting rid of bad breath that is caused by catarrhal infections.
Remedy
- Add 1 cup of water and 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds to a saucepan. Bring this to a boil and let it simmer for a few minutes, before taking it off the heat. Strain and sip this tea once every day till you get rid of halitosis successfully.
7. Lemon juice
Lemon juice contains anti-bacterial properties that help in fighting off bacteria that cause bad breath. The citric acid is also very helpful in combating the bacteria. Additionally, the pleasant smell of lemon juice helps in masking the unpleasant odor.
Remedy
- Stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in 1 cup of water. Use this to rinse your mouth twice a day to help get rid of the bad breath. Additionally, it also helps in treating a dry mouth which might be causing the bad breath.
8. Parsley
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Parsley is an herb that is highly effective in getting rid of bad breath.
Remedies
- Chew on a fresh sprig of parsley thoroughly to help freshen your breath. Dipping this sprig in vinegar and then chewing it also helps.
- Take a handful of fresh parsley and put them in a food processor. Add some water to extract parsley juice. Sip this juice as needed through the day to help freshen your breath. Additionally, it is also known to help in digestion.
9. Salt water gargle
Salt is known to help kill off bacteria that might be causing bad breath. The warm water helps soothe your throat and mouth.
Remedy
- Add 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 glass of hot water and dissolve the salt. Use this solution to gargle twice a day to help get rid of the bad breath.
10. Tea
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Regular as well as herbal teas are helpful in combating bad breath. Green as well as black teas contain antioxidant polyphenols that help in curbing the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath.
Remedy
- Add 1 teaspoon of dried sage in a cup and pour 1 cup of boiling water on it. Cover it with a lid and let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain and sip this tea slowly, several times a day to help keep your breath fresh.
11. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil possesses antiseptic properties that help in keeping your mouth clean, thus eliminating the bad breath.
Remedies
- Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your regular toothpaste while brushing to help get rid of the problem.
- To 1 glass of water, add a few drops of tea tree oil, lemon oil, and peppermint oil and stir well. Use this rinse your mouth twice a day to help combat bad breath.
- Use a toothpaste that contains tea tree oil as one of the main ingredients to freshen your breath.
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Additional tips
- Drinking lots of water through the day helps keep your breath fresh.
- Swish some water around your mouth for a few seconds and spit it out after each meal. If there are any food particles stuck in your teeth, they will get dislodged and clean your mouth.
- Consuming an orange after a meal will help combat bad breath, thanks to the citric acid found in the fruit.
- Avoid consuming dishes that contain onions, stinky cheese, or garlic to avoid bad breath.
- Chewing on dill, anise seeds, or cardamom help in combating bad breath caused by oral bacteria.
- Invest in an alcohol-free mouthwash that is sure to help keep your breath fresh.
- If the problem is persistent and causing you embarrassment, you could carry around a toothbrush with you and brush immediately after each meal. This should help keep your breath fresh.
- If you wear dentures, soak them in an antiseptic solution overnight to help get rid of the bad odor.
- Avoid skipping meals as it tends to make your mouth dry, making it a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
- Poor gut health is also known to cause bad breath. To aid the digestion process and thereby curb bad breath, consume probiotics like plain yogurt.
- Include raw foods in your diet like celery, apples, and carrots to help scrape out the plaque buildup in your mouth.
- Schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings to maintain overall oral health and hygiene.
- Replace your toothbrush every two or three months like clockwork.
- Chewing on lemon or orange peel helps get rid of the problem.
- Chew on sugar-free mouth fresheners to eliminate bad breath.
- Clean your tongue twice every day with a tongue scraper or a spoon to decrease the growth of oral bacteria that could cause bad breath.
These are all the highly effective home remedies for halitosis that you need. For more updates on health tips and fitness secrets, subscribe to our newsletter today!
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