8 effective home remedies for halitosis

The problem of bad breath or halitosis has affected humans for several centuries. Different cultures found different ways to get rid of it. For instance, the ancient Greeks used home remedies such as rinsing the mouth with myrrh, anise seed, and white wine, while the Italians concocted a mouthwash of cinnamon, sage, juniper seeds, rosemary leaves, and root of cypress. 

This blog contains information about halitosis, what causes it and home remedies that can help keep the bad smell away. Here is a closer look at this problem.

Causes Of halitosis:

Finding out the cause of bad breath can be the first step in fixing it. In almost eighty percent of the cases, it's because of something inside the mouth. In fact, bad breath is a consequence of nothing too severe than an unclean mouth. Plaque, a form of bacteria that is consistently developing, is often the culprit. Another possible reason of stink could be decayed food that's stuck between teeth.

Other Causes for Bad Breath

• Dental problems such as cavity and poor gums lead to development of pus in the gums because of which bad smell starts to come from the mouth.
• Dentists also believe that patients that have poor respiratory or digestive system suffer from halitosis. Diseases such as sinusitis, and intestinal disease play a big role in producing bad breath.

Home Remedies:

Here are some effective home remedies for treating bad breath 

Guava - Guava does not just taste good, but is also nutritious and healthy. The fruit contains useful chemicals such as malic acid, oxalic acid, and minerals such as manganese and calcium. These chemicals are helpful for gums and teeth and prevent any kind of bleeding.

Apple - chewing an apple after a meal will help in keeping the mouth fresh, and will get rid of any trapped foods between the teeth.

Fenugreek seeds - This is an extremely effective home remedy that is used for getting rid of bad breath. Boil 1/2 liter of water with about a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds. Boil it for 10-20 minutes. Filter out the seeds and consume the tea about three times a day.

Avocado - Avocado helps in clearing out the intestine that gets clogged with unnecessary material due to diseases and improper digestion. This consequentially prevents the formation of plaque inside the mouth. In fact, doctors believe consuming two to three slices of avocado is much better than using a mouth freshener.

Fresh veggies and juices - eating less, consuming unhealthy food, drinking less fluid are few of the many reasons for bad breath. It is important to always consume a lot of water or other kinds of fluids such as freshly prepared fruit and vegetable juices. Such fluids help keep the gums soft and mouth wet. Consequentially, there is less buildup of smelled sticky material on the tongue.

Cloves and mint leaves - Person who suffers from halitosis can chew on mint leaves or cloves. This helps in keeping the mouth fresh and wet. Apart from this, patients can also chew sunflower seeds, a wonderful remedy to avoid bad breath.

Parsley leaves - Take a glass of water and mix parsley leaves in it. Boil the mixture for about twenty minutes. Add 4 cloves and boil again with constant stirring. Strain the water and let it cool. Then rinse your mouth three times during the day for best results.

Lemon extract – Take a glass of water and add a tablespoon full of fresh lemon juice to it. Use the lemon water as mouth wash three times a day. This helps in keeping the mouth fresh and gets rid of bad breath.

Apart from applying these home remedies, it is also important to buy the right hygiene equipment such as dental floss, tooth brush and the like. They must be ADA approved and should fit the size of your mouth.