13 Tips to Get Rid of Bad Breath Naturally For Good

Bad breath can be a very uncomfortable and an embarrassing condition that some people endure no matter how much they wash, clean, or floss.

Bad breath not only affects you but the ones around you, making things even more uncomfortable.  What about mints, mouthwashes, and gum? Well, they are a good temporary fix that can only do so much to mask the real cause of bad breath.

If you are serious about getting to the root cause of the problem and committed to making the necesary life styles to overcome bad breath.. keep on readin’

One of the first things you need to keep in mind that one important element that is often times overlooked  is your gut, and overall health. So let’s get to that part:

In his article  “The Key to Treating Bad Breath Dr. Joseph Mercola writes:

A healthy digestive system is crucial for optimal overall health. In your gut reside trillions of beneficial bacteria that influence many of your body functions, including your immune system. Studies show that an estimated 80 percent of your immune system is located in your gut.¹³

The ratio of good and bad bacteria is a crucial indicator of the condition of your health. Your gut should have a balance of somewhere near 85 percent good bacteria and 15 percent bad.¹⁴ An imbalance between good and bad bacteria can predispose you to a wide number of health problems, more serious than bad breath and body odor.

Having less-than-optimal gut flora can make you vulnerable to health conditions linked to bad breath. A fishy smell in the breath suggests kidney problems, while a fruity-smelling breath may mean uncontrolled diabetes.¹⁵

This is why reseeding your gut with beneficial bacteria is essential for optimal health and disease prevention. But before I enumerate the steps that will help you achieve this, you must first understand how your diet plays a significant role in the imbalance of your gut flora.

What Is Bad Breath Or Halitosis

Bad breath is a fairly common occurrence. It is the unpleasant, foul, distinctive, or offensive breath odor. About 95% individuals suffer from bad breath at some point of time in their lives.

Furthermore,  bad breath may be quite common, it can be extremely embarrassing, and may even result in people maintaining a distance from you or in severe cases even hindering your social life! 

What Causes Bad Breath Or Halitosis

When bad breath becomes chronic, it is called halitosis. This may be due to dry mouth, medical problems, or even specific diets.

In many cases, it is caused due to poor hygiene and dental habits which is the easy part to fix vs an issue gastrointestinal issues, ulcers or other conditions related to the GI tract. In the absence of proper oral care, you may experience bad breath problems, as food may remain stuck in the teeth and gums and thus eventually rot, resulting in of course;unpleasant odor and bad breath.

Bad breath problems may be common among individuals with dentures, which, if not cleaned properly, may harbor fungi and bacteria.

Same thing goes for crowns, bridges and dental work that has been done improperly because again, food will get stuck in places that are hard to reach with a brush. That is why, flossing is very important along with a clean diet free of smoke, alcohol and recreational drugs.

Reasons Why You May Experience Bad Breath

• Use of tobacco products and nicotine is also linked to bad breath. Smoking or drinking may further exacerbate the condition.
• Tonsil stones can definitely cause bad breath. Make sure you check and remove them often.
• Xerostomia, a medical condition, may result in dry mouth due to lack of saliva, which can lead to bad breath. When re-mineralization of enamel does not occur due to lack of saliva, this can lead to a dramatic rise in the number of cavities in the mouth, which can cause bad breath. Poor oral hygiene is one of the leading causes of bad breath in the majority of people. When you do not cleanse your teeth regularly, the dead cells start accumulating on the tongue and this causes bad breath.
• Bad breath may be due to chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, postnasal drip, diabetes, liver or kidney problems, gastrointestinal disturbance, or a local infection in the respiratory tract.
• Bad breath may also be linked to sinus infection because nasal discharge from your sinuses into the back of your throat can cause mouth odor.
• Dieters or those on specific diets may develop bad breath from infrequent eating, which results in ketoacidosis.
• Tonsil stones can definitely cause bad breath. Make sure you check and remove them often.

Check out this video by Dr. Mercola interviwing Dr. Osmunson On Dental Hygiene

How To Get Rid of Bad Breath Or Halitosis

It is important to regularly brush and floss your teeth so as to prevent and deal with problems of bad breath. It is also important to ensure that the toothbrush is replaced periodically, and drink plenty of filtered water. Water helps in keeping the mouth moist and washing away food particles as well as odor-causing bacteria.   Diet plays a crucial role as well because bad breath could be a sign of  excess toxins in the body specially  the liver.

Today we are aware that detoxing your body from years of processed foods, bad eating habits, and chemicals is crucial.  Juicing vegetables, exercising (sweating), eating a clean diet an using wheat grass or organic coffee enemas are also ways to do detox your liver.

Here are 13 Tips To Get Rid of Bad Breath or Halitosis Naturally

1. If you wear dentures, remove them at night and clean to get rid of bacterial buildup from food and drink.
2. Try oil pulling with a top notch coconut oil for 20 minutes every morning (ei: while you get ready or on your drive to work). Oil pulling has been around for centuries and has been proven to be very effective in removing toxins from the mouth — including.. you guessed it– bacteria that causes bad breath. (buy certified-organic coconut oil)
3. Drink plenty of water and swish cool water around in your mouth. This is especially helpful to freshen “morning breath.”
4. Brush after every meal and floss, preferably twice a day.
5. Replace your toothbrush every two to three months.
6. Arrange regular dental checkups and cleanings.
7. Scrape your tongue each morning with a tongue scraper or spoon to decrease the bacteria, fungi, and dead cells that can cause odor. Hold the tip of the tongue with gauze to pull it forward in order to clean the back of the tongue.
8. Chew a handful of cloves, fennel seeds, or aniseeds. Their antiseptic qualities help fight halitosis-causing bacteria.
9. Chew a piece of lemon or orange rind for a mouth- freshening burst of flavor. (Wash the rind thoroughly first.) The citric acid will stimulate the salivary glands—and fight bad breath.
10. Chew a fresh sprig of parsley, basil, mint, or cilantro. The chlorophyll in these green plants neutralizes odors.
11. Try a 30-second mouthwash rinse that is alcohol-free (unike many off-the-shelf products). Mix a cup of water with a teaspoon of baking soda (which changes the pH level and fights odor in the mouth) and a few drops of antimicrobial peppermint essential oil. (This is my favorite peppermint oil) Don’t swallow it! (Yields several rinses.)
12. Make sure your gut flora is healthy by consuming natural probiotics or you can try supplementing with a good probiotic if you don’t have the time to make your own. (try a top notch probiotic here)
13. Gargle daily with a mixture of 2 oz of water and oil of oregano (Try organic oregano oil) which will kill bacteria and freshen your breath at the same time. Warning: You MUST dilute oil of oregano with 2:1 olive oil:oregano oil ratio because of how potent it is.

Or try 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: 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.) (source)

Do you or someone you know  suffers from bad breath? What have you tried that works and doesn’t? I’d love to hear your experiences below

References
http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003058.htm

http://healthcare.utah.edu/healthlibrary/library/diseases/adult/doc.php?type=85&id=P00883