Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Bad breath can be either a temporary or a chronic condition. Temporary bad breath can result from eating certain foods, such as onions or garlic, poor mouth hygiene. Chronic bad breath causes include tooth or gum disease, liver disease, poor digestion, lung disease, sinus or throat infection, or diabetes.

Bad Breath Symptoms

• Foul-smelling breath.
• A sour taste in the mouth.

Home Remedies for Bad Breath

• Apple cider vinegar: Mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water and use it as a mouthwash, gargle for 10-15 seconds at a time.
• Lime juice: Rinse mouth with lime juice mixed in water.
• Cardamom: Slowly chewing one or two cardamom seeds help to minimize bad breath.
• Fenugreek: Drink a tea made from fenugreek seeds. Put one teaspoon of seeds in half a liter of water and allow it to boil slowly at low temperature for fifteen minutes. It should then be strained and used as tea.
• Aloe-vera: Drink 1/2 cup aloe-vera juice twice a day.
• Clove: Chew clove to freshen the breath. Cloves powerful aromatic oil is antibacterial.
• Cinnamon: Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder to a glass of water and use as a mouthwash first thing in the morning so that breath stays fresh throughout the day.
• Parsley: Chew some parsley leaves to get rid of bad breath. Also, use fresh parsley to flavor your food as it temporarily deodorizes the breath. Parsley contains a bacteria killing compound which helps to handle unwanted bacteria in the mouth. Parsley is high in chlorophyll and has agents that neutralize odors in the blood and lungs.
• Dill: Boil one to two teaspoons of dill leaves in a cup of water and drink it after meals. Dill is rich in chlorophyll which helps to freshen breath.
• Fennel seeds: Eat fennel seeds to get rid of bad breath. It also prevents overgrowth of bacteria by alkalizing saliva.

Do’s for Bad Breath

• Practice good oral hygiene. Use a soft bristled brush to clean teeth and also clean your tongue to wash away microscopic bits of food that become trapped on the surface.
• Use dental floss at least once a day before brushing to remove food that are stuck between the teeth.
• Change toothbrush after couple of month regularly as bacteria can begin to build up.
• If you use dentures, clean them regularly and thoroughly. Like natural teeth, they harbor food and bacteria that can cause bad breath.
• Take vitamin C that supports the immune system and helps to keep teeth and gums healthy.
• Eat raw or lightly cooked fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds.
• Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water each day.

Don’ts for Bad Breath

• Don’t smoke. Cigarettes are major cause of bad breath.
• Avoid foods and drinks that contribute to bad breath, such as strong tea, coffee, alcohol, garlic and spicy food.
• Don’t use mouthwash containing sugar, alcohol, and dyes.
• Avoid offending foods.

See Doctor

• You have toothache, or inflamed or bleeding gums.
• You feel generally unwell and think this may be contributing to bad breath.

FAQ

• How to get rid of bad breath?

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