Having bad breath can have adverse consequences on your confidence and social life. The condition of having mouth odour is usually referred to as ‘halitosis.’ There are several causes of bad breath including lifestyle choices such as smoking and alcohol. However, the most common reasons are brought about by dental hygiene such as dental cavities, a coated tongue due to inflammation or gum disease. Lack of saliva in the mouth also contributes to bad breath. However, you can successfully treat halitosis by taking care of the underlying factors causing the condition. Here are 8 home remedies that have proven effective in getting rid of bad breath.
1. Fennel Seeds Fennel seeds have antiseptic properties that help get rid of bacteria that cause bad breath. Chewing a tablespoon of fennel seeds will help freshen your breath as well as stimulate the production of saliva in your mouth. The antimicrobial effect in saliva prevents bad breath. 2. Cinnamon Cinnamic aldehyde is an essential oil found in cinnamon that reduces the bacteria in your mouth and covers bad breath. Boil a teaspoon of cinnamon powder in water, add bay leaves and some cardamom seeds. After straining the solution, use it as a mouth rinse twice a day. 3. Lemon Juice Chewing on a lemon or orange rind will freshen your mouth and add a burst of flavor. The citric acid stimulates saliva production and fights off bad breath. You can also make a lemon rinse by adding a tablespoon of lemon juice to one cup of water and rinsing your mouth with it. 4. Parsley Parsley effectively neutralizes bad breath due to the chlorophyll in it. Simply chew on a parsley sprig to freshen your mouth. If preferred, you may dip the parsley sprig in some vinegar before chewing it thoroughly. 5. Cloves Put a few pieces of cloves in your mouth and chew them. The antibacterial properties in the cloves will freshen your mouth. Making clove tea will also give you a good mouthwash. Boil a teaspoon of ground cloves to a cup of water and boil, allowing to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Use this mouthwash twice a day. 6. Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar is great at balancing pH levels which makes it quite effective at remedying bad breath. Take a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar and after adding it to a glass of water, drink the solution before taking meals. This will do great for your digestion and treat bad breath. Alternatively, you can add some apple cider vinegar to a cup of water and simply gargle. 7. Baking Soda Use baking powder to make an alcohol-free mouthwash. Take one cup of water and to it add a teaspoon of baking soda. To it add a few drops of peppermint essential oil which has antimicrobial properties. The baking soda will help regulate acid levels in your mouth and will fight off mouth odor. 8. Water Drinking lots of water will generally give you a fresher mouth. Swish cold water around your mouth every now and then. This is especially effective in getting rid of morning breath. Use these tips for a healthier, fresher mouth. If the odour persists, it is advisable that you see a doctor in order to find out if there is a more serious underlying condition causing your bad breath.