Bad breath is mostly caused due to bacteria buildup in the mouth. This story provides a few some solutions to prevent bad breath, and keep your mouth feeling fresh, and free of foul odor.
Bad breath is medically referred to as halitosis. It is of two types - transient or temporary halitosis, and persistent or permanent halitosis. While the former is caused due to factors like poor oral hygiene, or unhealthy eating habits; the latter indicates a more serious medical condition. Whatever be the cause, bad odor can cause a lot of embarrassment. Here are a few simple remedies to get rid of bad breath.
Home Remedies
» Brush your Teeth
Let's start off with something very simple and very basic - regular brushing. Regular brushing of teeth keeps them clean, and free of germs and bacteria.
Use a good toothpaste and toothbrush, and make sure that you brush your teeth thoroughly. Pay more attention to the corners and the insides. These are the areas that are often overlooked.
» Clean the Tongue
Usually, tongue is where most of the odor-causing bacteria reside. Clean your tongue thoroughly using a good tongue cleaner. This is an important aspect of dental health.
» Floss
Use dental floss to floss your teeth on a regular basis. When it comes to bad breath, dental flossing is just as important as brushing.
» Use a Mouthwash
Rinsing your mouth with a mouthwash at regular intervals is another effective way of ridding your mouth of bacteria. However, try to go for a non-alcohol based mouthwash. An alcohol-based mouthwash can leave your mouth feeling excessively dry.
» Chew Mint
Chewing on a piece of peppermint candy or chewing gum can also help in fighting bad breath, albeit on a temporary basis. Chewing parsley leaves, mint leaves, or cardamom seeds, are other good remedies for this problem.
» Gargle
Mix a little bit of baking soda in a glass of lukewarm water. Gargle with this solution for a refreshing breath.
» Drink Fenugreek Tea
Tea made from fenugreek seeds is said to be very effective in tackling the problem of halitosis.
» Add Tea Tree Oil to the Toothpaste
Add a drop of tea tree oil on your toothpaste before you brush your teeth. Alternatively, add a couple of drops to a glass of lukewarm water and gargle.
» Eat Fruits
Eating fruits such as apples, oranges, sweet limes, etc., helps in keeping your breath fresh. Drinking pineapple juice is a well-known remedy for this problem.
» Eat Cloves
Keep a couple of cloves in the corner of your mouth, and chew on them from time to time. Chewing on sunflower seeds after a meal, followed by a glass of water is another good way of fighting bad breath.
» Drink Lime or Pineapple Juice
Before going to bed, squeeze an entire lemon in a glass of warm water. Add a spoonful of honey, and a little bit of cinnamon for flavor. You will wake up with a much more refreshing breath.
Bad breath can sometimes indicate a severe medical condition. If the problem persists for a long time, it is best to seek medical attention immediately.