Home Remedies for Bad Breath

Bad breath can be a devastating problem. Severe bad breath can affect all aspects of a person's life, so the time spent finding the cause and finding a cure is a good investment.

There are many causes of bad breath. Poor dental hygiene is on the top of the list. Food trapped between the teeth can decay and give off a very unsavory odor. It is important to regularly brush and floss your teeth. The tongue should also be brushed to remove any excess bacteria.

If you keep your teeth and mouth clean and still suffer from bad breath, there could be a more serious dental problem such as gum disease. Flossing diligently can help with gum disease, but consult with your dentist for more specific advice.

Aside from dental hygiene, there could be an intestinal problem that causes bad breath. Food allergies or intolerances such as lactose intolerance (the inability to digest milk products) can cause intestinal problems that lead to bad breath.

Masking Food Odors

Of course, bad breath doesn't necessarily indicate a health problem. Certain foods such as garlic are notorious for their malodorous effects. If you want to feast on garlic soup and anchovy pizza and expect to kiss your sweetheart afterwards, here are a few things you can do to cover the bad smells.

If possible, brush your teeth immediately after a zesty meal. If you don't have your tooth brush at hand, rinsing your mouth with water will help remove some of the food particles and oils contained in spicy foods.

To cover food odors, try chewing some mouth freshening herbs. The parsley that garnishes your plate is good for removing odors – chew away after finishing your meal! Anise, coriander, clove, and fennel are all useful for deodorizing the breath. Pick your favorite and get in the habit of carrying some around with you.

Morning Breath

As we sleep, our natural saliva flow slows down, causing a dry mouth. When we wake we often experience that yucky sticky mouth that we know means morning breath. Saliva has a natural cleansing action that removes unwanted bacteria, so anything that promotes the flow of saliva will help eliminate bad breath – at any time of the day. Try chewing on some sugarless gum, and drink lots of water during the day.

Remember that bad breath can indicate a serious medical problem. If you try all these remedies and still have problems, be sure to see your doctor for further advice.