Sarah EatonHow do you get rid of bad breath, (sometimes called halitosis)? Pop a mint? Chew some gum? Maybe you’ve tried some more unusual bad breath remedies. Or maybe you’ve tried mouthwash to get rid of bad breath. It certainly is one of the common bad breath remedies. However, certain compounds in mouthwash are thought to be cancer-causing. (1) That being so, if you struggle with halitosis, you might consider trying natural bad breath remedies. Eliminating causes and incorporating safe methods are part of what might help you get rid of bad breath. Halitosis can be a pain, but trying one of the natural bad breath remedies listed below might be the solution to your problem.
Halitosis is caused by either something you’ve eaten or by bacteria in the mouth. Onions, garlic, fried foods, sugar, and sticky foods can all contribute to bad-smelling breath. Morning breath occurs because bacteria in the mouth dried overnight, making them respond with increased activity. The bacteria produces sulfur compounds that account for a lot of cases of halitosis. (2)
Fight bad-breath causing bacteria with these 6 natural steps:
1. Skip Sugars and Grains
Sugars and grains promote the growth of bacteria. Just think of it like this—while you may have a sweet tooth, so does the bacteria in your mouth that causes halitosis! Sugar also feeds candida, which can also contribute to bad breath. Cut down on sugar and starchy foods. Instead, try high-protein foods, high-fiber foods, healthy fats, probiotic-rich foods, and alkalizing foods. (3)
Consider eating fermented veggies or kefir to help keep candida at bay and improve bad breath.
2. Consume More Healthy Fats
Healthy fats such as organic virgin coconut oil can help fight halitosis. Coconut oil contains a particular type of fatty acids called medium-chain fatty acids. And these fatty acids? They’re antimicrobial in nature. However, if you have a liver or gall bladder condition, check with your physician before consuming more saturated fats. (4)
3. Add Supplements and Essential Oils
After you’ve improved gut health with probiotics and have increased healthy fat intake, the next thing you’ll want to do is add in supplements and essential oils.
Start by taking a probiotic supplement. (5) And you can make your own homemade probiotic toothpaste with a mixture of baking soda, coconut oil and peppermint oil. Even a single drop of peppermint oil on your tongue can help freshen your breath. (6)
4. Eat Parsley
Parsley has often been touted as a great bad breath home remedy. While it won’t permanently cure bad breath, it could be beneficial in treating it. This is partly due to the fact that parsley is alkaline. You might try other alkaline veggies, such as kale, spinach, and Swiss chard. Cucumber and celery juice can also help improve bad breath. Try using these veggies in a smoothie. (7)
Furthermore, parsley is rich in chlorophyll, which will neutralize bad breath. (8) To help fight bad breath, you might try using parsley in a homemade mouthwash recipe. Boil parsley and cloves, cool and strain, and use the reduction as an oral rinse. (9)
5. Suck on a Lemon
If the thought of sucking on a lemon is enough to make you wince, try adding it to your water. Alternatively, you can put a drop of lemon juice on your tongue. The acid in lemon stimulates salivation, which will help control bad breath.(10)
6. Drink Lots of Water
There is a link between dry mouth and halitosis. Dry mouths are breeding grounds for bacteria, which produces the sulfur compounds that commonly cause bad breath. If your career involves a lot of talking, you mind find you deal with a dry mouth frequently. Increase your water intake to help keep halitosis under control. (11)
Sources:
1. NPR
2. Mayo Clinic
3. Mercola
4. NCBI
5. Body Ecology
6. Carefree Dental
7. Juicing For Health
8. Mercola
9. Top Natural Remedies
10. Home Remedies For Life
11. Oracoat