Bad Breath Remedies - Finally Your Friends Are Glad To See You

Fortunately, most cases of bad breath (also called halitosis) can be cured with bad breath remedies which can be bought over the counter or prepared at home.

Halitosis is unavoidable - we experience it every time we wake up in the morning or when our mouths are dry.

By using anyone of these bad breath remedies, halitosis should only be a minor nuisance and not a permanent fixture in your social life:  

1. Brush your teeth and floss. The mouth is home to over 600 bacteria.

Many of these bacteria break down food in the mouth and in doing so release odor-causing volatile sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide.

These bacteria thrive in pockets of the mouth that lack oxygen or where the mouth is dry. Dentures and orthodontic devices are also places where food particles can get stuck.

Therefore, it is essential to brush your teeth and floss after each meal. If you are out and unable to brush your teeth, eat a crunchy fruit or vegetable after your meal. This will help to dislodge food particles from between your teeth and from the back of your tongue.

Cavities and gum disease can also be major bad breath causes. Therefore, it would be wise to get a regular checkup with your dentist to ensure that your mouth is in good shape.

2. Brush your tongue. Many people will remember to brush their teeth but totally forget or ignore the brushing of their tongue. It is estimated that around 60% of halitosis cases are caused by improper tongue hygiene.

The tongue is conducive to bacterial growth and in particular the back of the tongue. The back of the tongue is drier and has remnants of food, dead cells and post nasal drip - all of which cause bacteria to flourish.

These bacteria can form a visible white coating on the tongue which in addition to being smelly is also unsightly.

By simply using a tooth brush or using a tongue scraper and gently brushing the tongue, you'd be getting rid of the bacteria and significantly freshening up your breath in the process.

3. Drink more fluids. Bacteria in the mouth thrives when the mouth is dry. When you have dry mouth, there is little saliva to wash away the stinky bacteria.

This is why you wake up with morning breath - your dry mouth during the night provided a safe haven for bacteria.

So it is essential to drink plenty of fluids in order to keep your mouth moist. Water is great to drink for this purpose but some research is pointing the efficacy of drinking green or black tea.

These teas contain polyphenols which may stop the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath.

4. Use non-alcohol mouthwash. An alcohol-based mouthwash may temporarily kill odor-causing germs in the mouth but the alcohol content dries out the mouth. And as you have read before, a dry mouth causes badbreath bacteria to flourish.

It is better to use a zinc-chloride based mouthwash which neutralizes many of the bacteria.

Another healthier option is to use mouthwash that contains the essential oils like lemon oil, peppermint and tea tree oil. These can be found at health food stores.

You should bear in mind that a healthy body is one of the most effective bad breath remedies. If for example, your digestive tract is not healthy, dental floss, mouthwash and toothpaste may not be so effective at getting rid of bad breath.

It is for this reason that some people use a homeopathic remedy for bad breath. Such a remedy contains biochemic tissue salts such as Kali phos and Nat sulph which help restores balance to your body's systems at the cellular level.

A body in balance is well capable of cleansing and detoxifying itself resulting in healthy digestive tract, mouth and gums - all resulting in fresh smelling breath.

Should you have chronic bad breath that the previously mentioned bad breath remedies are unable to cure, seek the advice of your dentist or doctor. It may be that you have a dental or medical condition such as liver or kidney disease, that is causing your smelly breath.