Having bad breath translates into people pulling away from you. It is a social disaster. Bad breath is a problem that is not only irritating but highly embarrassing. However, here are certain bad breath solutions that will help you fight this problem. There are many causes and treatments to deal with this simple and common problem.
Causes of Bad Breath
Bad breath or halitosis, is the foul odor of the breath. It can be of two types – transient and persistent. Transient bad breath is temporary, i.e. you can get rid of this type of bad breath by rinsing, brushing and cleansing of teeth. Persistent bad breath is a relatively serious condition, wherein the problem is of permanent nature (chronic bad breath). As far as transient bad breath is concerned, the intensity varies with factors like food items having strong odor (garlic, onion), smoking, etc. It can be tackled with maintaining basic oral hygiene, dental health and some lifestyle changes. But, extreme bad breath should be treated after diagnosing the cause.
Generally, bad breath emanates from the mouth itself. Diseases like pneumonia, bronchitis, postnasal drip, chronic sinus infections, chronic acid reflux, liver or kidney problems, diabetes, and respiratory tract infections can also cause bad breath.
Treatment for Bad Breath or Halitosis
Here are some bad breath treatments to prevent bad breath, and keep your mouth feeling fresh and free of foul odor.
Bad breath Home Remedies
- Let’s start off with something very simple and very basic – regular brushing. It will keep them clean and free from bad breath-causing germs and bacteria. Use good toothpaste and an effective toothbrush, and make sure that you brush your teeth thoroughly and regularly. Pay attention to the corners and the insides, as those are the areas that are often overlooked or under-brushed.
- Clean your tongue thoroughly using a good tongue cleaner. This is an important aspect of dental health. Usually, the tongue is where most of the odor-causing bacteria reside. Also, use dental floss and floss your teeth on a regular basis. When it comes to bad breath remedies, dental flossing and proper cleaning of the tongue is as important as brushing the teeth.
- Mouthwash is another effective way of ridding your mouth of odor-causing bacteria. Rinsing your mouth after periodic intervals using mouthwash can help in fighting bad breath. However, try to go for non-alcohol based mouthwashes, as alcohol based mouthwashes can leave your mouth feeling excessively dry.
- Chewing on a piece of peppermint candy or chewing gum can also help in fighting bad breath, albeit on a temporary basis.
- Halitosis or bad breath in children can be caused by non-oral sources, oral sources and even psychological problems. However, it is highly important that when the condition persists, parents should contact the family doctor for a check up. Teaching your children to pay attention to brushing their teeth and tongue is very important. Also, do not use mouthwashes with children as they usually swallow it.
Natural Remedies for Bad Breath
Here are a few other natural cures for bad breath.
- Mixing a little bit of baking soda in a glass of lukewarm water and gargling with it.
- Chewing cardamom seeds freshens the breath and reduces foul mouth odor.
- Chewing parsley or mint leaves is one of the best ways of freshening your breath in a jiffy.
- Avocado and tea made from fenugreek seeds are said to be very effective in tackling the problem of halitosis (bad breath).
- Tea tree oil is also known to help fight against bad breath. You can add a drop of it on your toothpaste before you brush your teeth. Alternatively, add a couple of drops of the oil to a glass of lukewarm water and gargle.
- Eating fruits such as apples, oranges, sweet limes, etc. helps in keeping your breath fresh and free of foul odor.
- Cloves also work well in freshening your breath and keeping bad breath at bay. Just keep a couple of cloves in the corner of your mouth and suck on them from time to time. The juice will fight the odor-causing bacteria and keep your mouth feeling fresh.
- 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.
- Drinking pineapple juice as well as chewing on sunflower seeds after a meal, followed by a glass of water is also a good way to fight bad breath.
Important tips to cure bad breath
- Its best if you could visit your dentist at least every six months for cleanings and checkups to keep your mouth free of plaque build up and other problems that may lead to bad breath. At least you are sure that the people surrounding you are equally happy and at ease.
- Watch your consumption of foods such as alcohol, coffee (both caffeinated and decaffeinated), dense proteins (such as those found in dairy and meat products), garlic and onions, and sugars. These are all bad-breath offenders. As nutritious as they may be health wise, they tend to emit odors, especially onion that’s difficult to completely cleanse, despite using mouth fresheners.
- Try to breathe through your nose. Breathing through your mouth can lead to having a dry mouth, which creates a breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria. Have as much as Vitamin C as possible. Vitamin C makes you resistant in combating all types of coughs and colds, thereby allowing you to breathe through your nose and not through your mouth.
