How to Get Rid of Halitosis Naturally?

Halitosis is a condition of chronic bad breath. It is a problem that cannot be solved only by good brushing or flossing or chewing gums, mints or even with using mouth wash. Halitosis stays for a longer period of time as caused due to some dental issues, dry mouth condition, infection of throat, nose, and mouth and due to excessive smoking. Halitosis may also be a sign of some gastric reflux, diabetes and even liver or kidney disorder. It could also be due to yeast and candida overgrowth in the body.

Bad breath usually starts from the back of the tongue, throat, and tonsils where naturally occurring bacteria are found. Imbalances in mouth bacteria are the leading cause of bad breath. When one eats, some bits of food get stuck in the teeth on which bacteria grow, releasing foul-smelling sulfur compounds. Plaque starts building up with time which leads to tooth decay.

Consuming Onions and Garlic also leads to bad breath as digestion of these releases Sulphur compounds into the blood stream and when the blood reaches the lungs, it causes bad breath. Bad breath is often a result of improper digestion of the food.

The most common symptoms visible along with bad breath are pain in teeth, swollen gums, pus in gums, plaque between teeth and dry mouth.

Certain lifestyle changes and natural remedies work effectively in getting rid of Halitosis permanently.

1. Saline Rinse

A saline solution rinse is an easy and simple way to prevent the buildup of infectious bacteria in the mouth. The acidity of saline solution prevents in keeping the alkalizing environment that favors the growth of microbes and causes bad breath.

2. Tongue Scraping

Bacteria may also accumulate on the tongue leading to foul smell from the mouth. It is required to brush or scrape the tongue at least once a day.

3. Prevent Dry Mouth Condition

Keep the body hydrated all the time. It is recommended to drink not caffeinated, non-sugary drinks throughout the day to encourage saliva production as saliva keeps the mouth clean.

4. Parsley and Fresh Mint

• Parsley is an aromatic herb that effectively treats bad breath due to its alkaline nature. Parsley is rich in chlorophyll that helps in neutralizing bad breath due to its germ fighting abilities.
• One may prepare a vegetable juice using parsley, mint, spinach, kale, cucumber, apple and celery and consume it on regular basis. This combination of juice naturally helps in getting rid of Halitosis.
• Parsley mouth wash may be prepared by boiling parsley sprigs, mint and cloves. Strain it, once it cools down then use it like a mouth wash daily. Cloves are rich in eugenol which gives it antibacterial properties. One may bite on cloves and spit it out once the essence permeates the mouth.

5. Green Tea

Green tea has antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and deodorant properties. It temporarily releases malodor due to antioxidants it contains. One may drink 3 cups of green tea daily to reduce bad breath.

6. Lemon and Oranges

Lemon juice is known to kill bacteria and fungi and also helps in reducing inflammation in the mouth. It shows excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. One may just suck on lemon or squeeze it in a glass of water and drink it. Lemon juice stimulates saliva production and helps get rid of dry mouth. The citric acid in oranges encourages the production of breath freshening saliva.

7. Pineapple Juice

The quickest and most effective treatment for bad breath is pineapple juice. One may chew on the pineapple slice or drink a glass of pineapple juice after meals to avoid bad breath.

8. Mouth wash with Zinc

Zinc helps to stop the buildup of volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath. Mouth wash with zinc or a chewing gum with zinc is an effective way to treat Halitosis naturally.  Chewing sugar free gum fight the growth of bad bacteria in the mouth.

9. Aloe Vera Mouthwash

Aloe Vera has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties which are very helpful in reducing plaque and minimizing bad breath. Add aloe Vera gel to boiled water, some peppermint oil to it and use it as a mouth wash. Aloe Vera helps in creation of collagen that helps in healing the mouth.

10. Cinnamon Chewing Sticks

Cinnamon is well known for its anti-microbial activities. Cinnamon chewing sticks is an excellent way to get rid of Halitosis as they are rich in fiber, and have other digestive and respiratory benefits. Cinnamon is also effective as an antiseptic for the mouth.

11. Toothpaste with Tea tree Oil

Prefer toothpaste with tree tea oil which is a natural disinfectant. Peppermint essential oil used as an oral rinse helps in reducing halitosis. A drop of peppermint oil on the tongue can freshen up the breath.

Diet

Diet should include more raw foods like celery, apples, carrots as these tend to scrape the plaque buildup and fights bacterial growth in the mouth. One should refrain from sugary foods, fried foods, refined foods completely. It is important to include probiotics in diet to change good to bad bacteria ratio inside the mouth and improves digestion. Yogurt, Kefir, Sauerkraut are some good probiotics. Protein rich foods and high fiber foods are good for treating bad breath. Consume healthy fats like coconut oil, olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocados and eggs.

Herbs

Herbs like basil, rosemary, dry ginger, fenugreek, fennel, anise seeds, cardamom are all effective in relieving bad breath and symptoms associated with it.  Anise seeds tastes like black licorice, they kill the bacteria that grow on the tongue. One may chew on fennel, dill, cardamom seeds after meals to mask the odor of halitosis.

Easy fixes include drinking plenty of water, brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and clean between the teeth once a day. Poor dental hygiene is the leading cause of bad breath and can be easily taken care of. To keep the toothbrush free of stink triggering bacteria, it is advised to put it head down in a tumbler of hydrogen peroxide and rinse it before use.

It is advised to check with a dentist and a doctor if the problem continues.