Home remedies for bad breath

introduction

Bad breath - also known as halitosis - is a common problem that is very uncomfortable and embarrassing for many sufferers. Out of shame, those suffering from it can even be tempted to avoid direct contact with their fellow human beings, which is ultimately also a psychological burden.
In addition, one hardly notices one's own bad breath and is often only pointed out by others when it is already strong. Fortunately, there are some useful home remedies that, in addition to conventional dental products, can also help.

Which home remedies can help against bad breath?

In order to be able to answer this question, the reasons for bad breath should first be discussed.
Basically, the unpleasant smell is caused by the bacteria that colonize our mouth and throat. They metabolize the leftover food in the mouth and form breakdown products that are then perceived as unpleasant by humans.

The aim of home remedies should therefore be to combat the bacteria that are responsible for the development of bad breath and to reduce their number. However, care should also be taken to ensure that these household products are not harmful to the oral mucosa and teeth, as otherwise one risks more harm than good. In the following, some home remedies for halitosis are presented and their mode of action is briefly explained.

A common piece of advice is: drink plenty of water. Frequent drinking ensures that the oral cavity always remains moist and does not dry out. This leads to a more effective elimination of unwanted acids and prevents the development of bad breath.

Sage tea against bad breath

Sage contains a wide variety of essential oils. People discovered this several millennia ago and used sage as a medicinal plant. These oils have antibacterial properties, which is why drinking sage tea or chewing fresh sage leaves is beneficial for bad breath. The active ingredients can reduce the number of bacteria in the oral cavity and thus eliminate unpleasant odors. Since sage has many other positive properties, its use is recommended to everyone.

Read about the medicinal plant sage and its other effects here: sage

Apple cider vinegar for bad breath

Another home remedy for annoying bad breath is apple cider vinegar. You can easily buy it in any supermarket and use it to reduce unpleasant odors. On the one hand, the acidic properties of vinegar lead to the displacement of unwanted bacteria and thus also to a reduced formation of odor. On the other hand, the apple cider vinegar binds the resulting substances effectively. When using it, it is best to gargle it in your mouth and then spit it out again so that you do not ingest the batteries and their metabolic products.

Propolis for bad breath

Propolis is a natural product made by bees. It is a resinous mass that can also be bought in liquid form. Propolis contains a large number of different substances, which above all have an antibacterial effect. The bee resin is therefore very suitable for disinfecting the oral cavity and at the same time eliminating bad breath. If you choose this route, you should find out when buying whether the product is also suitable for swallowing or is only intended for rinsing the oral cavity.

More information can be found here: Propolis

Healing clay for bad breath

Healing earth is a powder that is extracted from soil deposits. It contains loess, loam and clay with many minerals, the exact composition of which is often not known. The field of application of the healing earth is wide and it is even said to help against bad breath. The earth's minerals have the ability to absorb and neutralize unwanted odors. It is best to mix the healing clay with water to a liquid consistency and gargle or keep it in your mouth for a few minutes and then spit out.

You might also be interested in: Healing clay and its uses

Lemon water against bad breath

Lemon water not only tastes refreshing, it also makes the breath fresher and more pleasant. This is especially helpful with bad breath, as the natural product can cover it up, which is why it is included in the list of home remedies for bad breath. It is best to mix freshly squeezed lemon juice with mineral water and enjoy it throughout the day.

Brine for bad breath

Brine is a homemade drink made from water that is completely saturated with salt. If you want to make brine yourself, you should add enough salt to a glass of water until it can no longer dissolve and settles on the bottom. Most bacteria cannot tolerate the high salt content and thus perish, which ultimately reduces the development of bad breath.

Tea tree oil against bad breath

Tea tree oil is also a natural product that has a remarkable antibacterial effect. It is extracted from the leaves and branches of the Australian tea tree and contains a large number of different essential oils that can help with medical problems. One of them is of course bad breath. As with most other home remedies, the essential oils reduce the bacteria in the oral flora that are responsible for bad breath.

More on the subject under. Tea tree oil

Xylitol for bad breath

Xylitol is mainly known from chewing gum, where it serves as a sugar substitute. But it can also prove extremely useful in controlling bad breath. Xylitol is also called birch sugar and belongs to the sugar group. Compared to table sugar, the body cannot metabolize xylitol, which is why it has no calories. Studies show that the substance can prevent tooth decay because it is toxic to the bacteria in question. Thus, the remedy helps against both tooth decay and bad breath and is recommended to everyone.

Chewing gum to stimulate salivation

Reduced salivation can also be the cause of bad breath. Saliva contains many immunological substances that help maintain a healthy oral flora. If less saliva is now produced, the equilibrium can change and odor-causing bacteria settle. Chewing gum stimulates the large salivary glands and creates more saliva again, which helps to defend against bacteria and normalizes the oral flora again.

Read also under: Chewing gum for dental care

Oral hygiene and dental care

Improving oral hygiene sounds trite at first, but it is in fact the most important item on the list to effectively eliminate bad breath. Insufficient hygiene creates deposits in which bacteria multiply very effectively and form bad smells. With thorough oral hygiene, the plaque can be removed, the bacterial count reduced and the bad breath problem solved. It is advisable to brush your teeth twice a day for about two minutes, use interdental brushes and brush your tongue with a tongue cleaner. Mouth rinses also help prevent bad breath.

Read more about proper oral care at: dental care