Natural Remedies for Halitosis or Bad Breath

In simple terms halitosis is a disease that causes bad breath. It can affect anyone but some people seem to be more prone to it. Bad breath can be one of the most socially embarrassing conditions. Halitosis can affect both the social and business life of the sufferer. It also adversely affects the self image of the sufferer. It can be a temporary condition or it may become chronic. The most obvious cause of halitosis is of course lack of oral hygiene. A large number of bacteria live inside the human body and many of these are either useful or harmless. In a healthy body the harmful bacteria cannot thrive. Foul smelling odor in the breath is caused by bacterial byproducts produced in the mouth due to bacterial activity. These bacteria usually work on the food particles trapped between the teeth and produce foul smelling gases that escape with the breath resulting in what is called bad breath. The bacteria also become more active when the mouth is dry. As the mouth remains dry during our sleep our breath smells foul when we wake up in the morning. Bad breath can also be caused by diseases of the gum, teeth and the stomach. The first step to curing halitosis is maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing the teeth regularly. Apart from this people suffering from halitosis can either use conventional medicine or they can use natural remedies. The following are some of the natural remedies for halitosis.

1. Baking soda is very good for fighting bad breath problems. For this make a solution of 2 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 liter water. Thoroughly mix the baking soda. Use this solution for gargle once or twice a day. This is a very good natural remedy for halitosis. In many cases just doing this for a few days will help you to get rid the bad breath or halitosis. Your breath will feel fresh most of the time.

2. Another very effective gargle for halitosis is made from ginger and lemon juice. To make this gargle, first prepare one glass of warm water and then add a teaspoon lemon juice and a teaspoon ginger juice. Use this solution for gargling once or twice a day. This is also a very good natural remedy for halitosis or bad breath.

3. Parsley has been used by many people for getting rid of halitosis. Parsley is a commonly used herb and it contains essential oils and chlorophyll that fight halitosis. To use parsley, chop it and add several sprigs in a glass of hot water. Let it remain for sometime so that the juices are leached into the water. Add a few pieces of cloves into the hot water also. Stir it frequently so that the essential oils form cloves and parsley are absorbed properly. Cool and use this solution as a mouthwash regularly to get rid of bad breath.

4. A mouthwash prepared from thyme and eucalyptus oil in the above manner is also very useful for getting rid of halitosis. These essential oils will kill the bacteria present in oral cavities. Mouth washes containing either or both of them are also quite effective. Use the mouthwash twice daily for best results.

5. As said earlier a dry mouth encourages bacterial activity that causes halitosis. Therefore drinking sufficient quantities of water throughout the day is good for oral hygiene and controlling halitosis. Vitamin C is good for fighting bad breath. Drinking a few glasses of fruit juice containing Vitamin C every day will help in getting rid of halitosis.

The above natural remedies for halitosis are very effective. However, If they methods fail to bring about any improvement in halitosis symptoms then you must consult a dentist to rule out any serious medical problems.