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What Are Some Home Remedies for Treating Bad Breath?

Dr. Garland K. Davis • Oct 30, 2019

Do you find yourself unable to get rid of bad breath no matter what you do? If so, click here to learn about simple home remedies for treating bad breath.

treating bad breath

You’ve got a date tonight and things are looking promising. Your outfit looks great, your hair is cooperating, your skin has never been clearer, and your teeth are white. You do wish that your breath was a little better.

No matter how much mouth wash you’re using and how hard you brush your teeth nothing is keeping it away for too long. There has to be something that you haven’t tried. Lucky for you, we know what that something is and you won’t even have to leave your home to get it.

Keep reading for a list of natural ways that you can use to freshen up your breath in time for your date.

What Causes Bad Breath?


There are a wide variety of things that can cause bad breath. Some of the most common ones are tobacco use, dry mouth, and medical issues.

It can also be caused by little bits of food being stuck in your mouth. Bacteria grows on the food and emits a powerful odor. Poor dental hygiene can cause a problem as well.

Plague and bacteria need to be dealt with at least twice a day. If you fail to do this then it will cause bad breath.


Easy Remedies to Solve the Problem

The good news is that all of these problems can be solved by either natural means or by visiting your doctor. Here are a few things that you can try before making a dental appointment.

Stay Hydrated

When your mouth gets dry then your breath will start to smell. Of course, dry mouth can be caused by medical problems but if you don't suffer from one of these issues then water will do the trick.

The time when your mouth is at its driest is when you first wake up. You can get a jump on this early morning bacteria by pouring yourself a glass of water before you turn on your coffee pot.

Brush and Floss

The best thing that you can do to keep bad breath away is to brush your teeth. If you don't brush at least twice a day, you won't be able to get rid of the food particles that get stuck in your mouth.

Again, these food particles gather up their fair share of bacteria and cause a horrible odor. It's not only brushing that you need to worry about.

You need to floss as well.

You can floss twice a day or after every meal if you really want to cut down on the problem plaque. Besides, flossing also lessens your risk for periodontal disease. A condition that will lead to horrible bad breath.

Keep Your Tongue Clean

When amino acids and bacteria come together in your mouth it causes bad breath compounds to form. You can stop this from happening by making brushing your tongue a part of your routine.

There are special toothbrushes that you can buy that have tongue cleaning features on them. Make sure that you're picking these up instead of the basic ones.

Eat a Healthy Diet

There are the obvious foods that you should avoid to keep your breath in check such as, onions and garlic. Then there are the not so obvious ones like sugary cereals. You'll also need to stay away from acidic foods like vinegar.

Some safe choices are fruits, whole grains, veggies that are either dark green or orange, and good proteins like fish, beans, nuts, and seeds.

Use Mouth Wash

If you don't want to take the time to brush your teeth after every meal, you can do a quick rinse with mouthwash. It will cut down plaque and act as a quick way to freshen your breath.

Keep in mind that it's not good to only use mouthwash day by day. It will need to be coupled with brushing and flossing at least twice.

Parsley

Parsley smells good and contains chlorophyll. Both of these things combined allow this herb to overpower odor-causing sulfur compounds in your mouth.

The best way to take advantage of its effects is to chew on the leaves. If you don't like the idea of chewing on raw leaves a supplement will work just as well.

Pineapple Juice

If you need to get rid of your bad breath fast then you'll want to open up a can of pineapple juice and get ready to chug it. You can do this before a date or after you eat.

If you enjoy the fruit then you can also chew on pineapple slices for a few minutes. No matter what you do, make sure that you take the time at some point to brush away the sugar.

Fennel and Anise Seeds

In many parts of India roasted anise seeds are used as a breath mint. They have a pleasantly sweet taste that you'll enjoy and contain essential oils that will freshen your breath.

Fennel and anise seeds can be enjoyed raw and roasted. You can also coat them in sugar but again, be sure to brush over your teeth at some point after eating them this way.

Oranges

If you're not a fan of water you can eat oranges to create enough saliva to get rid of dry mouth. It doesn't have to be an orange per se. You can use anything that will put vitamin C in your diet.

When to See a Doctor for Treating Bad Breath

Is nothing helping your bad case of halitosis? There are plenty of natural ways of treating bad breath. Try out one of these methods on this list and if they don't work then you may want to turn to a professional.

Are you thinking of reaching out to a doctor for your bad breath? Contact us to set up an appointment.

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