Most people suffer from bad breath at some time or the other. It is normal to feel a bad odour emanating from your mouth as soon as you wake up in the morning. It disappears when you brush your teeth and you feel fresh. But some people suffer from bad breath throughout the day even after brushing their teeth.
This is known as Halitosis, it may seem like a small issue, but it can be quiet embarrassing when you notice the person with whom you are talking, backing away from you due to your bad breath. You can become self conscious and may feel shy of talking to anyone.
There are many factors that cause bad breath; the most common is lack of proper dental hygiene and gum disease or tooth decay .Diet also plays an important part in maintaining your oral health. A protein rich diet without adequate intake of fluids and fibre can also cause bad breath. Hard food like nuts and whole grains get stuck in the teeth and leads to collect bacteria, that causes bad breath. Drinking alcohol and smoking also causes bad breath.
Sometimes you are not aware that your mouth smells, but the people around you can. To check your breath, place a handkerchief close to your mouth and blow out hard, if the handkerchief smells bad it means you have a bad breath. Mostly the bad odour originates from the back of your tongue where food particles get deposited and forms a thick layer.
Bad breath can be easily prevented and cured by simple home remedies. You do not have to spend too much time and money to deal with this problem.
You should brush, floss and clean your tongue at least two times a day i.e. morning and night before going to bed. Brushing your teeth after every meal also helps to prevent the bacteria from forming in the mouth. Flossing helps to remove the food particles that get stuck in between your teeth and cannot be removed by brushing. You will be surprised to see the amount of tiny food pieces that come out after flossing.
Use a tongue scraper to clean the tongue thoroughly. It is easily available in the market, plastic tongue scraper is better than the steel one as it is safer. Tongue scraper helps to remove the dead cells and very small food particles that get stuck in the back of the tongue. Check your tongue in the mirror and if you see a layer of white mucous sticking to the tongue, means it is not clean.
Fenugreek- Fenugreek is one of the best cleansers and is beneficial for removing mucous from the tongue. Soak 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds in a glass of water for 7-8 hours .Use it as a mouth wash, two to three times a day.
Lemon- Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C; it helps to strengthen the gums and teeth and prevents bad breath. Squeeze one lemon in a glass of water and use it as a mouth wash. It will freshen up the breath and remove bad odour. Drink lime water at least twice a day to keep your mouth moist and fresh.
Dry lemon peels in the sun and grind them to make a fine powder. Use it to massage your teeth. It will help to keep your teeth strong and healthy and will also prevent tooth decay. Mix mustard oil, a pinch of salt and juice of half a lemon to make a paste. Apply it on your teeth and gums to get rid of all kinds of dental ailments.
Pomegranate- It has astringent properties and it has the power to cure bad breath. Grind dried peels of pomegranate to make a fine powder. Mix it with a little salt and massage your teeth. You will be relieved from bad breath and it will make your teeth shiny. Boil pomegranate peels in water and use as a mouth wash.
Coriander- Chew ½ tea spoon coriander seeds after meals to get rid of bad odour that is caused by garlic or onions. Mix the paste of fresh coriander in a glass of water and use as a mouth wash after meals.
Parsley- Chew parsley leaf to prevent bad breath. This herb has curative properties to fight bad breath. Make a decoction with parsley leaves and water and drink it after meals. It is an excellent remedy to improve digestion. Indigestion can also cause halitosis.
Basil or Tulsi-Tulsi has immense curative properties and it can cure mouth ailments effectively. Chew 3-4 tulsi leaves after meals to get rid of bad breath, which is caused by particular foods or alcohol and smoking. It also helps to prevent cavities, which make a perfect home for bacteria.
Eat crunchy and hard fruits like apple or guava. They help to remove plaque that causes bad breath. They also keep your mouth moist and increase the production of saliva. These fruits are rich in fibre which is a friendly diet to fight bad breath.
Eat lots of citrus fruit that are rich in vitamin C, such as berries, oranges and watermelon to prevent the growth of bacteria. It also prevents gum disease and pyorrhoea, which is the major cause of bad breath.
Yogurt reduces the level of hydrogen sulphide in the mouth, thus it prevents the growth of bacteria. Vitamin D is essential to maintain your dental health. Eat at least one bowl of curd every day. Cheese and milk also have vitamin D in sufficient amounts. Balance your intake of this vital mineral by eating these foods to cure bad breath.
Chew on green cardmom, fennel seeds, cinnamon or cloves after meals or whenever you have a feeling of staleness in your mouth. Carry them with you when you are outdoors. These herbs and spices act as mouth freshener and are saliva builders. Saliva keeps the mouth wet and removes food particles. It also throws away the bacteria and prevents bad breath.
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