Bad breath or halitosis is a common problem which affects men and women in, more or less, equal numbers worldwide. Symptoms of halitosis include bad odor originating from your mouth, dryness of your mouth and an uncomfortable feeling in your mouth. Bad breath can lower your self-esteem and may lead to social awkwardness. The condition can also lead to serious dental problems such as dental carries, plaque formation, and gum problems such as odontitis.
Remedy No. 1: Brushing Your Teeth
There are various home remedies which aim to lessen or completely stop bad breath. These methods are generally available and can be performed without medical expertise. For instant fresh breath, there is no other way but to brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth at least two times a day or after each meal is recommended to clean and remove food debris trapped in between teeth. Food debris can lead to bad breath because bacterial action will convert these complex food molecules which then result to the formation of foul smelling metabolites.
Tooth brushing can also help lessen bacterial population in your mouth. Brushing also helps remove plaque which is another source of bad breath. Dental plaques are made out of complex interactions between bacteria and their by-products from metabolism. Brushing the tongue can also help in preventing bad breath because the tongue is a known breeding ground for bacteria. The tongue has a large surface area, rich in food debris and water. These moist and warm conditions make the tongue a suitable place for bacterial growth. Brushing the tongue can help lower bacterial population, hence preventing halitosis.
Remedy No. 2: Rinsing with Mouthwash
Rinsing your mouth after meals can also help ward off bad breath. Mouthwash products, in general, have antibacterial properties which kill bacteria and inhibit bacterial growth for some time after rinsing your mouth. Mouthwash products also contain odor neutralizing compounds such as zinc, which counteracts foul-smelling molecules such as sulfur derivatives.
Remedy No. 3: Tea
Drinking tea, especially green tea, can also prevent bad breath. Green tea is rich in polyphenols, an antioxidant that neutralizes bad odor and prevents bacterial growth. The healthy drink is also rich in fluoride which helps repair teeth and counteracts bacterial by-products of metabolism such as lactic acid.
Remedy No. 4: Common Things You Have In Your Pantry
Chewing mint leaves and parsley also help prevent bad breath because they neutralize the foul odor. Chewing of these herbs has been the practiced in Asia for many years before humans began using the toothbrush and toothpaste.
Pineapple juice is also an odor neutralizer for the mouth because it is rich in antioxidants. Consumption of sesame seed has the same effect because they are rich in fiber which acts as a natural toothbrush and gets rid of plaque.
