Bad breath (medically known as halitosis) is usually a result of poor dental habits and can be a sign of some health problems. It can also be made worse by unhealthy foods you consume and other lifestyle habits.
How Does What You Consume Affect Your Breath?
Mainly, all the food eaten starts to be broken down in the mouth. Such as foods are digested and engrossed into the bloodstream, they are ultimately carried to the lungs and given off in the breath. Therefore, if you consume foods with strong smells (as onions or garlic) – brushing, flossing and mouthwash can just cover up the smell temporarily. The smell won’t go away completely until the food has passed through the body.
How Do Poor Health Habits Cause Bad Breath?
If you are not brushing and flossing teeth every day, food particles are remaining in your mouth and can promote bacterial growth abound the gums, between the teeth, and on the tongue. That is the main cause of halitosis. If you use antibacterial mouth rinse through the day, it can help you reduce bacteria in your mouth.
Additionally, food particles and odor-causing bacteria can cause bad breath if dentures aren’t appropriately cleaned. Chewing tobacco-based products and smoking also can cause stain teeth, bad breath, irritate the gums, and reduce your abilities to taste foods.
Health Problems Associated with Bad Breath
The most common health problems that are often associated with this condition are:
- Gum disease;
- Yeast infection of the mouth;
- Dental caries (cavities);
- Dry mouth (xerostomia), and
- Certain respiratory tract infections (as bronchitis or pneumonia, chronic sinus infections, diabetes, liver and kidney issues, postnasal drip, and chronic acid reflux)
Home Remedies for Bad Breath
There are many home treatments for bad breath. However, in accordance with medical statements and patients’ opinions, Your Health Tubers suggest these four fantastic natural remedies that can eliminate this condition and whiten your teeth:
- Lemon Juice
This is a traditional bad breath treatment that has been used for centuries. Lemon has great antibacterial and acidic properties that can prevent bacteria growth in the mouth. Further, it has a dominant pleasant smell that can kill the bad odor.
Simply squeeze some juice from the ½ lemon into a ½ cup of water and rinse your mouth with the mixture. You can also put a pinch of salt in this mixture and then use it. Lemon juice will help to solve the issue of dry mouth that is one of the main reasons for halitosis.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has amazing pH balancing properties, which makes it an ideal remedy for eliminating bad breath. It can also whiten your teeth and help you ease a tooth pain.
You can put 1 tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar into one glass of water and rinse your mouth AFTER meals. Alternately, you can prepare the same solution BEFORE eating meals and drink it. It will aid in digestion as well as eliminate bad breath.
- Baking Soda
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is also a great solution for preventing and eliminating bad breath. It aids to balance the acid levels that are a reason for halitosis. Moreover, it fights bacteria that cause bad odor in the mouth.
Dissolve ½ teaspoon of baking soda into a cup of lukewarm water and rinse your mouth with it one a day. Alternatively, you can apply a bit of baking soda on your tooth-wash and brush your teeth regularly.
Baking soda is usually the main ingredient in many teeth whitening products, thus, this mixture will help in the teeth whitening process as well.
- Cloves
Cloves have powerful antibacterial properties and strong pleasant smell that can help freshen your breath and eliminate the bad odor.
Just put 2-3 pieces of cloves in the mouth and chew them thoroughly. It will eliminate bad breath in a minute. Alternatively, you can prepare a clove tea (boil a cup of water, add 1 teaspoon of cloves and simmer for about 10 minutes). You can drink the tea or use it as a mouthwash.
Cook Vita Advice: Eat more apples, celery, carrots and other raw fruits and vegetables. Organic crunchy fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber are also truly beneficial for eliminating bad breath.
Conclusion:
Maintaining good oral health is crucial to controlling bad breath. It includes regular tooth cleaning (flossing, brushing, and tongue rubbing). Drinking plenty of water through the day is also really important for keeping the mouth fresh and clean. Plus, after consuming a food, swish some water around the mouth for a few seconds. It will loosen particles of food stuck between the teeth and clean the mouth.
An antiseptic mouthwash, lemon juice, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and cloves can help eliminate bacteria that cause bad breath. Consult your dentist about which natural remedy or product is best for you.