Freshening Bad Breath And Halitosis The Natural Way

What is bad breath/halitosis?

Just what it sounds like: a common and often embarrassing oral-health issue, stemming from a variety of causes, and which in some cases may be an indication of some other physical disorder.

What causes it?

Everybody has suffered from bad breath at some time or another — usually from someone else’s.

Often, individuals afflicted with bad breath are not even aware of the problem. Causes leading to the development of the condition include: poor dental hygiene, tooth decay, periodontal disease, xerostomia (also known as dry mouth), consumption of strong-smelling foods such as garlic, and use of tobacco products. In addition, eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, improper cleaning of dentures, and certain vitamin deficiencies can also foul the breath.

What are the symptoms?

Offensive odor from the mouth, coated surface of the tongue, dry mouth, and perhaps most telling: indications or hints from other people (wincing, turning away, or scrunching up their noses) suggesting the detection of an unpleasant odor.

An easy way to self-diagnosis the condition is to lick your wrist, wait for the saliva to dry, then sniff to check for a bad smell.

How can bad breath be prevented?

Maintaining a proper dental hygiene regimen will usually prevent halitosis. Those suffering from more extreme cases, however, should consult a physician to determine if there’s an underlying medical cause for the condition.

Drinking plenty of water, eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, limiting the intake of fermented foods and dairy products, along with regular flossing and tooth brushing will go a long way towards prevention.

Are there natural treatments?

Masking bad breath will not eliminate the problem. Treating the root cause of the odor is the only way to permanently cure the condition. The following natural remedies have been proven effective in freshening foul-smelling breath:

AROMATIC HERBS, such as cloves, and seeds of fennel and anise, chewed after a meal will minimize breath smell. In addition, munching

parsley sprigs, mint leaves, holy basil (tulsi) leaves, fresh ginger root, apple slices, carrots, and celery sticks between meals can neutralize mouth odor, too.

HERBAL TEAS made from peppermint, chamomile, cinnamon, sage, cardamom, or fennel are also helpful, and PEPPERMINT OIL — just one drop on the tongue — cures bad breath instantly.

Finally, sucking on a slice of raw LEMON immediately after consuming strong- smelling foods such as onion and garlic has also been shown to put the kibosh on bad breath fast.