I
lost my full time employment and I’ve been surviving through a freelance job so
it’s a must to think of austerity measures.
While on this thought, I came up with contemplating on how to minimize
the use of toothpaste by using natural method without compromising my oral hygiene. Before researching, I tried this method
already which indeed effective but I needed to check it through a research to
make it more credible.
Bad
breath or halitosis is the unpleasant odor of the breath, a common problem
found among people around the world. In
the United States, millions of Americans suffer from bad breath.[1]
This is not a disease and can be prevented easily once its cause is
established. Accumulation of bacteria in the mouth due to the presence of food
particles, gum diseases or due to the formation of plaque cause bad breath.
Garlic and onions which has a strong smell can increase bad breath.
Bad
breath can put in very awkward situations and can unenthusiastically influence
one’s social life, career and intimate relationship. It can ruin
relationships.”
If
not all, perhaps almost all love to look good, concentrating on dressing to the
nines and wearing branded perfumes but sometimes oral health is ignored, which customarily
leads to bad breath and spoils one’s entire impression.
So
how do we know that we have a bad breath? Open the mouth, place hand near and
breathe out. Another method to check
breath is by licking the backside of the hand using tongue then smell it after
3 seconds or simply smell the floss used. If yes is the answer after inhaling a
foul smell, then it’s time to do something
about it before others become turned off and vanish one by one because
of course it’s not delightful talking to someone while gasping a rancid air somehwere.[2]
Home
remedies provided below help to keep breath fresher for a longer period of time
than the artificial gargle and sprays available in the market which claims to fight
bad breath. Try these different to fix bad breath and find out which one best
suited in your case:
1).
Salt or Lemon Rinse
Salt
rinse is the oldest and one of the most effective remedies for curing bad
breath, which is beneficial not only in killing mouth bacteria but for
curing gum infections. This has been my practice actually for a week now particularly
warm water mixed with a teaspoon of salt, “Lo and behold” it was successful
just on the first attempt, which is the most practical and accessible at all
times.
Method: Use this
as a gargle by preparing half cup of warm water and ½ teaspoon of salt, mix
them well until it becomes a clear solution then rinse your mouth with it
before going to bed. Gums turn more pink (which is a sign of good oral health)
in a few days when using this method.
Lemon
can also substitute salt to make a mouthwash. Bacteria formation in the gums is
hampered by using lemon. The acid present in lemon fights the growth of oral bacteria and helps breath to be fresher.
2).
Baking Soda
It
helps not only as effective teeth whitener but also good in curing bad
breath.
Baking
Soda maintains the pH balance of the mouth, prevents accumulation of bacteria and removes the plaque and stains on the teeth. However,
overuse of baking soda corrodes teeth and it is important to rinse the mouth
thoroughly after using baking soda to cleanse teeth and mouth. Baking soda can
be applied using these different options as a method provided below to avoid
bad breath:
Method
1: Use either toothpaste which contains baking soda or dissolve some baking
soda in warm water and gargle with this solution. Baking soda stops odor
causing bacteria formation in the mouth.
Method
2: Take a teaspoon of baking soda and
dip toothbrush in the baking soda. Brush using this method regularly to achieve
cleanness of teeth and freshness of breath and to get rid of bad breath.
Method
3: Brush teeth with regular toothpaste and rinse mouth properly. Take a small amount
of baking soda and brush teeth to cleanse them and to maintain the pH balance. Wash mouth thoroughly and feel the freshness.
Method
3: Mix one teaspoon of baking soda in a
glass of warm water then use this solution to gargle the mouth. To get better
results, repeat the process several times a day
3). Sun
Flower Seeds and Mint leaves
Sun
flower seeds and mint leaves cleanse and spread fresh scent in the mouth. Chew
on fresh mint leaves or eat some sunflower seeds with a glass of water; both
gets rid of the bad breath.
4). Yogurt
Yogurt
contains probiotics, which are very helpful in getting rid of bad breath. Rich in good
bacteria, daily intake of yogurt cures bad breath in a few seconds and also
stops the growth of odor causing bacteria.
5).
Refrain from Sugar
Avoid
foods that contain refined sugar as they cause cavities and bad breath. Stay
away from candies, cookies and other sweet treats containing sugar. Use brown
sugar instead.
6). Drink water or Pineapple Juice
God’s
natural provision is the simplest. Water helps in keeping the mouth and stomach
hydrated, which prevents bacteria formation causing bad breath.
Pineapple
juice is likewise very effective brought by its high acidic content which keeps
the bacteria away from gums and tongue. Unsweetened tea when consumed hot can
also be dependable.
7). Fenugreek Tea
This
type of herb is also a good treatment for
bad breath. It has the ability to heal respiratory tract problems and bad
breath, improves the production of saliva and reduces the growth of bacteria in
the oral cavity.
Method: Simmer a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in 2
cups of water for 15 minutes on low flame then strain it before consumption to
prevent bad breath.
8). Cloves and Cardamom
The
aromatic seeds of cardamom are very helpful in
preventing bad breath. Cloves has anti-microbial and
anti-septic properties that are equally good for
bad breath removal and also protect against toothaches, sore gums, oral ulcers and other mouth infections. Different options below
can be an application:
Method
1: Chew 2-3 whole cloves after meals
for removal of bad breath in a few minutes. This provides fresh breath for
longer period.
Method
2: Keep 3-4 whole cloves in 2 cups of hot water for 10-20 minutes and allow the
oils to seep into hot water. Strain and drink it by adding natural sweeteners
to prevent bad breath.
9).
Fennel Seeds
Fennel
seeds have anti-microbial properties which help in killing the bacteria causing
bad odor of the mouth. It is also very effective in resolving digestive
problems which are a major factor for bad breath to certain people.
Method 1: After eating foods with strong smells that
may cause bad odor, chew a teaspoon of fennel seeds right away. The aroma of
the fennel seeds conquers the smell of the food.
Chewing
fennel seeds improves saliva production and lessens bad odor due to dry mouth. Use
fennel seeds mixed with spices such as cardamom, cloves, cinnamon etc. for
better results. Frequent
use of this remedy after meals provides better results.
Method 2: Make fennel tea from one teaspoon of crushed fennel seeds and one cup of water.
Strain the tea to remove the fennel and mix it with honey or milk. Drinking fennel tea gives long lasting fresh
breath.
10).
Cinnamon
Cinnamon
contains an essential oil called Cinnamic aldehyde which facilitates in reducing
bad breath by lessening the bacterial growth present in the saliva. Use the following options that best suit you:
