If you suffer with bad breath day in and day out, rest assured that you are not the only one. Stale breath is a condition that has inundated humankind for centuries, and it often still seems to elude us. However, we have come up with a list of natural cure options to help you overcome your bad breath woes and be on your way to fresher breath. We suggest trying hydrogen peroxide, apple cider vinegar, and activated charcoal first.
What Is Halitosis?
Halitosis can be defined very simply as bad breath. However, the issue itself isn’t quite that simple. Bad breath can be an embarrassing condition that even causes individuals anxiety.
In any case, bad breath is a condition that involves mouth odor caused by a variety of different sources. Some individuals experience the condition as a stale smell while other have more of a foul odor. Certain types of mouth odors may be indicators of more serious conditions.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Generally speaking, bad breath is caused by issues in the mouth. Bad breath can be caused by leftover food particles in the mouth, tobacco products, poor dental hygiene, dry mouth, or infections in your mouth. Some issues have roots that lie outside the mouth, though. Mouth, nose, and throat conditions, such as a postnasal drip, may also cause foul-smelling breath. Additionally, certain medication and even certain diseases, like cancer and metabolic disorders, also contribute to breath odor.
Can’t I Just Brush My Teeth?
If you determine that you have bad breath, then one of your first lines of defense is to review your oral hygiene practices. Making changes, such as brushing your teeth more often and drinking plenty of water, are great places to begin with treatment. Additionally, you’ll want to be sure to brush your tongue any time you brush your teeth, as it often harbors excess bacteria. Also be sure to floss daily to eradicate any bacteria hiding in between your teeth.
Do Natural Remedies Work to Freshen Breath?
In addition to amping up your regular hygiene practices, you can also try specific natural treatments to help freshen your breath. Options such as hydrogen peroxide, apple cider vinegar, and activated charcoal help eliminate excess bacteria in your mouth and help to naturally relieve issues of bad breath. If your condition still persists despite changes in your oral hygiene habits as well as these treatment options, you should see a dentist to determine if you have a more serious condition.
1. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful disinfectant composed of hydrogen and oxygen. Using hydrogen peroxide as an oral mouth rinse helps eliminate existing odor-causing bacteria.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar contains important digestive enzymes. Supplementing with ACV will help you improve your digestive processes and can alleviate bad breath issues.
3. Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is one of world’s oldest and most trusted detoxifying remedies. When used as a paste to brush the teeth, the charcoal absorbs poisons from your body and helps improve intestinal and digestive health to reduce breath odor.
Bad breath has a variety of causes and can be treated using a variety of remedies. Give one of our suggestions a try or add one of your own to our extensive list of reader-contributed remedies for bad breath below!
