Home Remedy Treatments for Bad Breath
Figuring out the cause of bad breath is the first step, obviously, in doing something about it, but here are some home remedies to keep your breath as fresh as possible.
Yes, but only for a short time. Dental researchers agree that commercial mouthwashes mask odors only temporarily (anywhere from about 20 minutes to about 2 hours). These products don't prevent bad breath, either. While they may be able to kill bacteria that contribute to bad breath, a new batch of bacteria crops up fairly quickly. If you do decide to use a mouthwash, choose a product with fluoride for its cavity fighting potential or one that is accepted by the American Dental Association for removing plaque. |
Clean your tongue, too.
Bacteria left on your tongue can contribute to less-than-fresh breath, so be sure to brush your tongue after you've polished your pearly whites.
Ditch your dentures. If you wear dentures, never wear them to sleep. Give them a thorough cleaning and leave them out until morning.
Wet your whistle. A dry mouth can equal smelly breath. Saliva helps clean your mouth; it has a natural antibacterial action and it washes away food particles. (Reduced saliva flow at night explains why your breath smells sour when you wake up in the morning.) Try sucking on sugarless mints to stimulate saliva production.
Don't stress out. Stress can dry out your mouth, causing bad breath.
Avoid potent foods. Garlic and onions, among other foods, contain sulfur compounds that move on to the lungs after they
are absorbed in the bloodstream. Certain fish, such as anchovies, and seaweed are high in "fishy" amine odors. Unfortunately, during the move the chemicals that make these foods so tasty and pungent stick around. And they don't smell so great as you whisper sweet nothings into your sweetheart's ear.
For information on other unpleasant or embarrassing conditions, try the following links:
- To see all of our home remedies and the conditions they treat, go to our main Home Remedies page.
- To learn how to treat burping, see Home Remedies for Burping.
- Home Remedies for Body Odor
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
includes tried-and-true measures for staying odor-free. - If you suffer from heart burn, read the tips presented in Home Remedies for Heartburn.
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