Natural Cures for Halitosis
Halitosis is a fancy term for bad breath. The causes of halitosis range from a garlicky meal to certain diseases. However, halitosis can become embarrassing if it grows into a chronic problem. A dentist may be able to prescribe a cure for your bad breath, but you can often save some money by using natural cures for halitosis.
Other People Are Reading
-
Toothbrush
-
If your gums are red and appear to be receding, you may have gingivitis. If you experience toothaches, you may have an infection that can lead to a cavity. These common mouth problems can cause halitosis. To treat them naturally, consider switching toothbrushes. According to the Mayo Clinic, an electric toothbrush may help users clean plaque better, strengthening gums and reducing bacteria.
Dietary Changes
-
If you suffer from frequent heartburn, indigestion and stomach pain, your bad breath may originate in the stomach. This means that your halitosis may be better treated with a dietary change than with breath mints. Eliminate foods that cause you digestive problems. Common culprits include spicy foods, fatty foods, acidic foods such as citrus fruits, and milk products. Once the heartburn and indigestion diminish, the halitosis is likely to follow suit. The odor from fragrant foods can also enter the bloodstream and lungs, causing prolonged bad breath until the foods are eliminated from the body. Limiting your consumption of onions and garlic may help.
-
Proper Hygiene
-
Proper hygiene is the best natural cure for halitosis. This means brushing your teeth after meals, including the tongue, and flossing at least once a day. The National Institutes of Health cautions that most mouthwashes are simply a cosmetic cover-up and offer no long-term benefits. For this reason, mouthwash should never be used in place of brushing your teeth.
Limit Causes
-
Dry mouth, tobacco products and extreme dieting can all lead to halitosis. To minimize dry mouth caused by illness and medications, drink at least eight glasses of water a day. If the cause of your halitosis is tobacco products, try to limit or eliminate your use of tobacco. Extreme dieting can produce a fruity kind of bad breath from ketoacidosis, a breakdown of chemicals caused by fasting.
Breath Fresheners
-
Since most of the natural cures for halitosis take a little time to begin working, try breath fresheners for instant relief. Use sugar-free mints and gum to get fresh breath without the potential for cavities. You can also use mouthwash and parsley for short-term relief.
-
Resources
- Photo Credit Stock.xchng
