Natural Alternatives For Bad Breath
If you have noticed a pungent odor coming from your mouth every time you speak, cough or eat, you may be suffering from a bad breath problem. Halitosis is an ailment that can attack anyone when they have an underlying problem with their teeth. There are many methods you can use from within the confines of your own home in order to help attack smelly breath.
Fight Stench With Saliva
When your mouth is dry, it harbors bacteria much more than when moisturized. To avoid this, keep a bottle of water on hand to swish around in your mouth when you feel dryness setting in. If you do not have water readily accessible, eating any food will help get your salivary glands moving, aiding in the washing away of bacteria that smells unfavorable. Be sure to avoid foods that can make breath worse, however, such as onions, garlic or cheese.
Eat Breath-Freshening Foods
There are several foods that you may have on hand that can help freshen breath naturally. The citrus acid in oranges or lemons can help deodorize breath by stimulating salivary glands faster than some other foods. You may have noticed that upper-scale restaurants will put a spring of parsley on your plate with your meal. This is because it is a natural breath-freshener that you can use when you have finished dining. The chlorophyll in parsley is known to fight germs while freshening your palate.
Open Your Baking Cabinet
There are several spices known to help eliminate bad breath. Cloves are composed of eugenol, which is a known antibacterial substance. Since it helps combat bacteria, it will leave you with fresher breath after using it. Place a clove in your mouth and push on it with your tongue so it becomes slightly bent, releasing the freshening properties. Keep it moving while in your mouth since it can cause a burning sensation if left in place too long.
A few other spices that can help with halitosis are fennel, dill, anise seeds or cardamom. They can all be popped into the mouth for a quick fix. Sucking on a cinnamon stick is another way to help keep bad breath at bay.
Use Last Ditch Efforts
If you are in a public place, and you notice the smell of your breath, try to scrape your tongue with a plastic or metal item to remove some of the bacteria. Excuse yourself into a bathroom and use a spoon or another clean hard-surfaced item to remove the grime from your tongue. Rinse your mouth and the item you used for scraping with tap water. At the very least, use your teeth to scrape along your tongue in an attempt to remove the bacteria that causes bad breath.
For more information, contact a business such as David Jackson, DDS.
Share
