If you are looking for simple and effective home remedies for bad breath, continue reading this article and find out what they are. But first.
Bad breath, medically referred to as halitosis, fetor oris, ozostomia or stomatodysodia is one of the most embarrassing conditions one can have. Even more so, the person suffering from bad breath may not be aware of it, in most cases. Scientists say that almost half of the world’s population has suffered from bad breath at a given moment. The causes of bad breath can be multiple, ranging from strong tasting meals, smoking, or pre-existing medical conditions. Before we get into the home remedies for bad breath, let’s look into what causes bad breath.
In This Article You Will Find:
Common Causes of Bad Breath
1. Bacteria & Viruses
The sulfur-producing bacteria in the oral cavity can be a cause of halitosis when they decompose proteins at a high rate. This is what happens when one follows a high protein diet and his body is in a ketosis state.
2. Dental Problems
Severe periodontitis (infections around teeth), gum diseases, tartar buildup below the gum line, and poor oral hygiene is directly related to bad breath. In fact, 90% of bad breath cases are caused by poor oral hygiene.
3. Dry Mouth Syndrome
This is a condition highly affected by frequent alcohol consumption, smoking, medication, etc. Dry mouth can also be triggered by stress or another medical condition.
4. Post-Nasal Drip
Excess mucus in the nasal and oral cavity, triggered by chronic sinusitis, colds, allergies, deviated septum, certain medication, or even some foods can cause post-nasal drip that leads to bad breath.
5. Tonsillitis
In some rare cases, the decayed tissue on the surface of the tonsils, also known as tonsillitis, can be the cause of very bad breath.
6. GERD
Acid reflux and bile acid are common causes of bad breath, in case the valve linking the stomach to the esophagus has some motility disorders. This leads to GERD or hiatal hernia. In both cases, the acid in the stomach penetrates the esophagus and releases the digestive gases in the oral cavity, causing halitosis.
7. Chronic Diseases
Kidney failure, some carcinomas, and metabolic or biochemical dysfunctions can cause bad breath in some situations. Bad breath can also point to intestinal issues, such as SIBO, Crohn’s, or other gut-related problems.
8. Certain Foods
Some spices and dairy have the ability to further bad breath. Alcohol and coffee can also be the cause of halitosis. Bacteria in the mouth tend to release important amounts of gas when they decompose proteins, that is why it is very important to brush your teeth well, every time you eat meat.
9. Smoking
Smoking leads to a diminishing in the oxygenation of the oral cavity tissues, leading to halitosis. We have a complete remedy for quitting smoking, you can check it out.
Other Bad Breath Symptoms
Except for the foul odor, there are other symptoms related to bad breath, that can also point to the cause of it.
- The membrane that covers the dorsal part of the tongue turns whitish in color
- Burning tongue sensation
- Thick saliva
- The need to constantly clear the throat
- A constant metallic/bitter or sour taste in the mouth
Now that you know the most common causes of bad breath and other symptoms, let’s get into 12 amazing home remedies for bad breath.
12 Effective Home Remedies for Bad Breath
First off, you need to understand that there is no proper cure for bad breath because bad breath is often a symptom of another condition, rather than a medical problem per see. Staying hydrated at all times and keeping good oral hygiene are the first two things you can do to prevent and treat bad breath. However, there are 12 effective home remedies for bad breath that we want to share with you. It is very important though, that while doing one of the bad breath remedies below, exclude white bread, sugar, coffee, and alcohol from your diet.
1. Oil Pulling Remedy for Bad Breath
When you start the oil pulling treatment, it’s even best if you do it 2-4 times per day, and then continue doing it every morning, for maintenance. Together with a Tibetan clay cure for stomach cleanse that you find below a full body detox, oil pulling is one of the best home remedies for bad breath. Here is what you have to do.
- Rinse your mouth well with 1 tbsp. of cold-pressed organic sunflower oil.
- The oil pulling should last for 20 minutes, then spit it out.
- Then brush your teeth well and thoroughly clean the whitish substance from the surface of your tongue.
It is important to spit all the oil out without accidentally swallowing it because the pulled oil accumulates a lot of toxins from the mouth cavity. Instead of sunflower oil, you can also use coconut oil for pulling. Immediately after the oil pulling, rinse your mouth well with water and salt.
2. Tibetan Clay Remedy for Bad Breath
Clay water is one of the best home remedies for bad breath. For this, Add 2 tbsp. of Tibetan clay to a liter of water and stir really well. Use this clay water to rinse your mouth first thing in the morning. Tibetan clay is also very good used internally because it is a great throat and stomach cleanser.
3. Sea Salt Gargle for Bad Breath
Sea salt gargles are amongst the best home remedies for bad breath. First thing in the morning, make gargles with salted water for 2-3 minutes. To prepare the salted water is quite simple. Just add 1 tsp. of coarse organic salt in a cup of warm water. You can then continue with the oil pulling treatment above.
4. Home Remedies for Bad Breath with Propolis
Chew on 1 gr of propolis every day (the size of a corn kernel) for 2-3 hours, and then swallow it. Propolis is a very powerful mouth bacteria killer, which is a leading cause of bad breath.
5. How to Use Baking Soda for Bad Breath
After brushing your teeth well, soak the tip of your toothbrush in baking soda. Rub it well on your teeth, tongue, and gums. This is a great natural way to end bad breath. This is one of the simplest home remedies for bad breath.
6. Bad Breath Remedy with Anise
Bad breath can be cured with this simple recipe that you can do at home. Make a mix with 30 g anise whole, 30 g anise seeds, and 20 g of thyme. Boil this herbal mix for 10 minutes in ½ l of homemade white wine, or organic white wine. Split the quantity in 2 and drink it sip by sip, in small gulps, in 2 separate rounds. Continue with this remedy until the bad breath is gone. These aromatic seeds are some of the most effective home remedies for bad breath.
7. Wild Thyme Tea for Bad Breath
Make a simple decoction by boiling 2 tbsp. of wild thyme for 8-10 minutes in a cup of water. Leave covered for 10 minutes after it has boiled. Use this marvelous tea to rinse your mouth after every meal. Wild thyme is one of the most powerful natural antibiotics out there, which is why is one of the best home remedies for bad breath.
8. Walnut Leaves Gargle for Bad Breath
In addition to the wild thyme tea rinse, drink a decoction made from walnut leaves. This is how to make it. Boil 3 tbsp of walnut leaves in a cup of water for 5 minutes. Slip the tea and use it for gargles. Gargle well with the warm walnut leaves tea 3-4 times a day. Do the last gargle right before bedtime, after you’ve brushed your teeth well. This is one of the most effective home remedies for bad breath.
9. Herbal Mix Remedy for Bad Breath
Make a mix of equal parts of yarrow, horsetail, marigolds, and sage leaves. Add a large pinch of this dried herbal mix into a cup of hot water. Infuse shortly, strain, and use ¾ of the tea to gargle. Use the tea warm. Slowly drink the rest of the tea unsweetened, in short sips for the following 10-15 minutes. Continue this treatment even after the bad breath problem is over, to make sure that the problem is completely solved. These herbs are amongst the most powerful home remedies for bad breath.
10. Wormwood Bad Breath Remedy
This is one of the best home remedies for bad breath caused by stomach issues, and it goes like this. Make an infusion with 1 tsp of dried and minced wormwood in 500 ml of boiling water. Cover for 15-20 minutes then strain. Drink the wormwood tea 30 minutes before meals. The prepared quantity is for 1 day, in 3 reps. This is a week-long treatment. Pause for the following week and then resume it for another week.
11. Sage Tea for Bad Breath
One of the simplest home remedies for bad breath is sage tea. Make a warm sage tea and use it for gargles 3 times a day. Continue until the halitosis symptoms are all gone.
12. Cure Halitosis with Dill Seeds
Chewing on dill seeds is another simple and effective home remedy for bad breath that you can try. It may sound simple, but this is one of the best home remedies for bad breath out there.
Read Also: 4 Natural Remedies for Bitter Taste in The Mouth
We sure hope that the home remedies for bad breath here will really help you out. Let us know which of these remedies worked for you in the comments below. Stay healthy, naturally!