Bad breath, gingivitis, gum disease, halitosis... Smells like a potent mix of 'Phew! What died in here...'? But for those who have to put up and live with it as part of their daily routine, it can be a demeaning (and avoidable) statement, to say the least.
Especially after you've tried the dozens upon dozens of mouthwashes, mint gums, tongue cleaners / scrapers, and an assortment of "bad breath kits" advertised on late night TV shows... the problem either 'subsides' for a few hours to be temporarily forgotten -- until someone standing close to you, in the midst of an otherwise normal conversation, suddenly stops and gives you that peculiar 'what's that smell?' kind of look.
And the next thing you know you're frantically reaching out for that box of mint as if you just had an asthma attack. Let's face it, bad breath can be worse than an asthma attack. Why? Because, it stinks!
Often, the person with bad breath doesn't really know that he or she has got bad breath. It takes someone else pointing it out to them, which makes it all the more embarrassing.
So why don't we put a stop to it once and for all? Wouldn't we just LOVE to have a cure for bad breath that worked well -- and lasted longer? Sort of like sex, you know. Something closer to a permanent cure so you can popping in a (sugar-free?) candy gum every time someone reminds you of it?
Well, the Chinese discovered a bad breath remedy much before dental implants, cosmetic dentistry and 'my dog has bad breath too' kinds of confessions. Their cure was almost 4,000 years ago, and they were simply herbs from the the neighboring forest! Sort of like jogging down to New York's Central Park and picking up a bunch of herbs to cure a Wall Street broker's bad breath on the trading floor. The Chinese found their herbs freely on the forest floor, in clear abundance, and with no dental treatments or surgeries to pay for.
The ancient Indian science of Ayurveda, too, prescribed its own recommendations for curing bad breath, in parallel to what the Chinese believed. Their inspiration too was the forest, so they called them forest remedies, herbal remedies or home remedies, which, in modern times, has even morphed into more accessible expression of 'kitchen remedies'. Because you could cure bad breath using herbs commonly found in the Indian kitchen. No need to go hunting around amongst the forest bushes.
But the fact is, 'kitchen remedies' is a generic term, and these are herbs are easily available in any kitchen (or garden) of the world. Here are 4 of the simplest home remedies you can use right now to cure bad breath:
1. Instead of your regular toothpaste, use a herbal toothpaste that contains neem extracts in it. Scientifically known as Azadirachta Indica or Melia Azadirachta, the neem is a semi-evergreen tree whose trunk yields a tenacious gum and seeds yield an aromatic oil. It's the leaves whose extract help keep your breath much longer.
2. Instead of your regular mouthwash, use a solution of neem dissolved in warm water as an alternative mouthwash. It's more effective, not too harsh on your teeth and gums, and is a natural treatment for daily oral hygiene. Use this natural mouthwash solution 4 times a day.
3. There are two other kinds of mouthwash you can add to cure bad breath - (a) Boil corriander leaves in water and use the resulting liquid-extract as a mouthwash. (b) Aloe vera mixed with honey and cold water is a good mouthwash for chronic bad breath.
4. Think peppermint is the only mouth freshener? Here are two more to chew on -- green cardamom and cloves.
5. If your bad breath problem is due to tonsillitis, sinusitis or a nasty cold, edible camphor is a very effective throat stimulant. It's a sublime substance that simply melts away clogged mucus, giving a clarity and freshness that extends much beyond your throat. It's like vacuuming your own mouth with one of Nature's most effective nasal decongester... ENT therapy on the cheap! - source
Natural Bad Breath Treatment Suggestions
Are you suffering from smelly breath? Not to worry as in this article you will learn what are some natural bad breath treatments you can tap on to freshen your breath.
Green Raw Juices
Chlorophyll has been found to help eliminate smelly breath. Fruits and vegetables when consumed liberally are good alternatives too. Vegetable juices are also more effective in curing and preventing breath problem since they cleanse the colon.
Green leafy vegetables when juiced still maintain chlorophyll to battle smelly breath. The daily habit of drinking fresh vegetable juice from green leafy sources is known to work best.
Avocado
Avocado is another great way to reduce, prevent and treat halitosis. This is fare more effective that splurging on expensive mouthwashes or lotions.
Since the mouth is directly linked to the colon and any bad colon environment is directly puffed out in the mouth, avocado is known to cleanse the colon - thereby eliminating an important source of foul smelling breath.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek has been known to effectively treat bad breath as well, and tea coming from this seed source is also a great way to eliminate halitosis. Among the several home remedies for halitosis, the use of fenugreek has proven to be the most effective solution.
One teaspoon of fenugreek seeds simmered in half liter of water should do the trick. Strain it and drink it as tea, and hours later you will see the effects.
Parsley
Parsley is another effective home treatment solution. Chop the parsley sprigs and boil them in two cups of water with a bit of ground cloves for fewer then five minutes. Stir the mixture as it cools down and strain it before using it as a mouthwash.
This mixture should be stirred occasionally while cooling. It should then be strained and used as a mouthwash to gargle with five to six times a day during the weekends.
Guava
Did you know that green, unripe guava is one of the most effective breath treatments? Chewing this raw fruit is an excellent mouth scrubber to rid of those volatile sulphuric elements present in halitosis.
Guava is known to be rich in elements like oxalate, malic, phosphoric acid, manganese, calcium and tannic, which are known to combat halitosis elements as well. In addition, it helps in preventing and curing gingivitis.
Proper Diet
Do not discount the benefit of a well-balanced diet Most of your diet should be comprised of nuts, fiber, seeds, vegetables, grains and fruits, putting particular emphasis on raw vegetables. As said, the green leafy sources with excellent sources of chlorophyll are best to eliminate sources of bad breath.
White sugar and too many carbohydrates must be avoided, and meat and eggs must be lessened. (If meat is an important diet inclusion, add some cilantro leaves for instant breath freshening.) Maintain excellent oral hygiene If available, margosa twigs make for the best toothbrush that eliminates bad breath, but your regular (and frequently changed) toothbrush should be okay. Meat fibers should be removed in between the teeth by dental flosses rich in fluoride.
Mouthwash rinses after toothbrushing is especially helpful before retiring for the night. Eating an apple or guava after lunch is also an excellent habit to practice to clean the in-between particles. The teeth should be cleaned at least twice a day, especially before going to bed at night. If you must use a toothpick, use ones with fluoride, mint or eucalyptus tips as part of your bad breath treatments regimen. - source