Halitosis or bad breath is characterised by causing an unpleasant odour in the mouth is a very uncomfortable condition. Due to it being a very embarrassing symptom, those who suffer from it tend to decrease their level of confidence and self-esteem to coexist in their social environment.
In many cases it is caused by deficiencies in oral hygiene, but it is also related to the consumption of certain foods, smoking or dry mouth, among others. It is also caused by bacteria that lodge in our mouth or by diseases that we have in our liver, if we learn to detect which is the main cause for which we suffer it will be easier to eliminate it.
These are the 10 main causes of bad breath:
- Foods like onions and garlic
- Cigarette and Alcohol
- Drinking coffee and not brushing your teeth afterwards
- Foods that remain between the teeth
- Lack of Saliva (dry mouth)
- Infections in the respiratory system
- Stones in the Amygdalae
- Inflammation in the Gums
- Cavities
- Gingivitis
Fortunately, there are currently many products that slow down bacterial growth to neutralise odour and improve oral health. Although commercial mouth rinses are quite effective, this time we want to share some homemade alternatives that allow you to relieve it without spending more. Try them!
Nevertheless, keep in mind that there is nothing like visiting an expert who can properly check your mouth and look for a specific solution to your problem. Here at Parkwood Green Dental we are happy to help you with any issue you may have related to dental health. Contact us today and let us help you with your problem or just to have one of our check-ups.
- Baking soda to relieve bad breath
Sodium bicarbonate is one of the most commonly used substances in the treatment of halitosis. Its antimicrobial properties help control bacterial growth to neutralise odour and possible infections. We will help you prepare a homemade remedy:
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (5 g)
- ½ glass of warm water (100 ml)
How to prepare it?
- Dilute the baking soda in warm water and gargle two or three times a day.
- Do not forget to read:
- 7 ways to use baking soda as a natural remedy
- Tea tree essential oil
Because of its powerful antiseptic qualities, tea tree essential oil is a natural disinfectant that inhibits bacterial action in the mouth to control odour.
Ingredients
- 5 drops of tea tree essential oil
- 5 drops of peppermint oil
- 3 drops of lemon oil
- ½ cup of warm water (125 ml)
How to prepare it?
- Add the essential oils in half a cup of warm water and rinse twice a day.
- Parsley
Preparing a natural parsley drink is also a viable option, although it may not be the most delicious one. Parsley contains a substance called chlorophyll that acts effectively against the symptoms of halitosis.
Ingredients
- 1 handful of parsley leaves
- ½ cup of apple cider vinegar (125 ml)
How to prepare it?
- Chop a handful of parsley leaves and immerse them in apple cider vinegar for 15 minutes.
- Then, chew them for one or two minutes.
- Repeat the remedy after each brushing.
- Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, a substance that lowers the pH of the mouth to alter the environment that microorganisms need to proliferate.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (30 ml)
- 1 glass of water (200 ml)
How to prepare it?
- Dilute the apple cider vinegar in the glass of water and use the product to make a mouthwash.
- Lemon
Among the multiple qualities of lemon, we find that, thanks to citric acid, it is able to stop the proliferation of bacteria and microorganisms responsible for bad breath. Lemon juice is one of the oldest remedies against this problem. Its citric acid stops the proliferation of bacteria in the tongue and gums.
Ingredients
- 1 lemon
- 1 glass of water (200 ml)
How to prepare it?
- Squeeze the lemon juice and mix it with a glass of water.
- Make gargles with the liquid several times a day.
- Peppermint infusion
The antibacterial properties of the peppermint are useful to reduce the bad smell and the number of bacteria accumulated in the mouth.
Ingredients
- 1 handful of peppermint
- 1 cup of water (250 ml)
How to prepare it?
- Heat the cup of water and, when it reaches a boil, add a handful of mint. Allow the decoction to be done for 5 minutes, strain and consume after each meal.
- Nettle tea
Nettle tea is a purifying beverage that stimulates the elimination of toxins and heavy metals accumulated in the body. Although most of us ignore it, these conditions also influence the difficulty in controlling bad breath.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of nettle (10 g)
- 1 cup of water (250 ml)
How to prepare it?
- Put the cup of water to boil, add the nettle and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove it, wait until it cools off and take two cups a day.
- Fennel
Fennel seeds are useful to alleviate bad breath caused by foods loaded in condiments and dry mouth.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of fennel seeds (10 g)
How to do it?
- Chew a few seeds of fennel after finishing eating.
- Fenugreek tea
If bad breath is caused by cold infections, this fenugreek remedy (also known as fenugreek) is a good solution.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds (5 g)
- 1 cup of water (250 ml)
How to prepare it?
- Add the fenugreek seeds in a pot with a cup of water and let it boil over low heat.
- Strain the liquid and consume it twice a day.
In addition to using some of these remedies against halitosis, remember to reinforce the oral hygiene measures with a good brush, cream and dental floss.
Keep in mind that at Parkwood Green Dental we are happy to help you with your dental health. Visit us!