Chronic bad breath, or Halitosis is known an unpleasant odor deriving from our mouth. Is a condition that is obviously not detrimental to our health per se, but it is embarrassing and occasionally socially debilitating. It’s estimated that around 25 to 30 percent of us suffer from halitosis, worldwide.
Because there are multiple causes for bad breath it’s difficult to know which one is the culprit in your particular case. Some examples are:
Poor dental hygiene resulting in cavities and gum disease- Inflammation of the gums and tongue causing a coating of yellow or white like ‘fur’
- Medical conditions like diabetes, liver disease, malnutrition, fry mouth, throat infection, and much much more.
Bad breath is usually not constant or consistent as it may come and go and may get worse or better depending on many factors. We can make it worse by the foods we eat (garlic, onion) and drinks we consume (coffee, alcohol). It doesn’t matter how we get it, what matters most to the individual is how we fix it.
Lets look at some handy ways to fight bad breath
- regular oral hygiene that includes flossing and mouth wash. If you have dentures make sure you take them out and clean all through them and in your mouth.
- Water is you friends for more reasons than one – keeping your mouth moist and saliva production in its prime will help keep your breath fresher
- Make sure you don’t keep the same tooth brush from your child hood. It’s recommended that you swap it up every 3 months. Whether it’s a new head for the electric one or a new disposable one. Try a nice wooden tooth brush, a lot friendlier on the environment
- Be sure to see you dental professionals regular. Every 6 months is a good start and they can let you
know if you need anything in between. - Don’t forget to clean your tongue – scrape it off every morning and give it a good brush
- Cloves may taste quite horrible by themselves but they are good to chew for their antiseptic properties to help fight of nasty bacteria
- Lemon and orange rind is great for a quick freshen up
- Herbs like parsley, basil, mint etc are all good was to neutralize your breath.
- Try making your own alcohol free mouthwash and using it for 30 seconds twice a day.
Try out this recipe from 500 TIME-TESTED HOME REMEDIES AND THE SCIENCE BEHIND THEM:
CRUNCH IT
Raw crunchy foods clean the teeth. Apples contain pectin, which helps control food odors and promotes saliva production. Cinnamon is antimicrobial. Active cultures in yogurt help reduce odor-causing bacteria in the mouth.
1 cup apple chunks
1 cup grated carrot
1 cup diced celery
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup crushed walnuts
3 to 5 tablespoons plain nonfat yogurt
Ground cinnamon
PREPARATION AND USE: Mix the apple, carrot, celery, cranberries, and walnuts together in a large bowl. Add yogurt by the tablespoon to moisten the mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon. (Serves two.)
