Natural Bad Breath Cures that Work Fast

Article by Kathy Aral

If you’ve been struggling to find a bad breath cure that works, you’ll be relieved to know that some of the most effective bad breath cures are really quite simple. But simple doesn’t mean obvious and following conventional wisdom can sometimes make matters worse.

The causes of bad breath vary, so the first step in finding an effective bad breath cure is to identify the exact cause of the odor. While bad breath can be caused by certain foods and poor oral hygiene, some things you may never think of can also cause bad breath. Tooth decay, gum disease, a sinus infection or other respiratory condition, digestive disorder, and even certain prescription medications can all lead to less-than-fragrant breath.

If you’re unsure about the cause of your bad breath, here are some bad breath cures to try.

Bad breath cure #1: chew fresh herbsFor temporary bad breath that comes from eating strongly scented foods like onions and garlic, you can cut the smell by chewing breath freshening herbs like parsley, peppermint, cloves or fennel seeds. Peppermint and cloves are ideal because they not only reduce odor, but also kill harmful bacteria.

Bad breath cure #2: brush with essential oilsIf you believe the odor may be caused by excess mouth bacteria, adding certain essential oils to your toothpaste before brushing may help. Bacteria-fighting oils to try include tea tree oil, peppermint, clove, thyme, rosemary, and tea tree oil. Some oils can be quite strong, so use only a single drop when you start out.

Bad breath cure #3: brush with baking sodaOften used as a deodorizer in the kitchen, ordinary baking soda can help improve the scent of your breath, too. Just make a paste out of water and baking soda and use this as you would any toothpaste. Don’t brush with plain baking soda every day, though, or you could damage your tooth enamel.

Bad breath cure #4: keep your mouth moistLack of saliva can cause unpleasant breath odor. If you’re mouth often feels, dry first try simply drinking more water (coffee, juice and pop don’t count) throughout the day. You can also stimulate saliva production by chewing gum, but this isn’t a long-term solution because even sugarless gum can harm your teeth if you chew it every day. If dry mouth is causing your bad breath, talk to your dentist. They may prescribe artificial saliva, which comes in lozenge, spray, and gel form.

Bad breath cure #5: cut back on acidic foods and drinksAnother internal and easily controllable cause of bad breath is excess acid in the mouth and digestive tract. To find out if this is causing your breath problems, avoid acidic foods like citrus fruits and dairy products and drinks like coffee, orange and tomato juices for 72 hours. One exception is pineapple, which contains an enzyme that that helps clean the mouth.

Bad breath cure #6: check your protein and carb intakeA high protein diet can cause bad breath. Try greatly reducing or eliminating meat from your diet for at least three days. If this helps, you can start increasing the amount of meat you eat until you find the amount your body can process without breath odor.

Low carbohydrate intake is another possible cause of bad breath. If your body doesn’t get enough carbohydrates to use for storing fat, it will expel the fat instead (a state known as ketosis). If this is your situation, to improve your breath, increase your carbohydrate intake slightly or eat more dark green, leafy vegetables.

Bad breath cure #7: apple cider vinegarSome people don’t produce enough of certain digestive enzymes to digest food efficiently. While this may not cause noticeable health problems, it can lead to unpleasant breath. Taking one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar before each meal will aid digestion. Just don’t do it over the long term because you could damage your esophagus. If this trick improves or cures your bad breath, talk to your doctor about testing your enzyme production. The solution could be as simple as taking enzyme supplements available at many health food stores.

Bad breath isn’t just something you have to put up with. Because bad breath is more than just a hygiene problem, mouth washes and mints don’t have any lasting effect. The informed use of natural products along with simple changes in your oral hygiene routine and diet, however, can cure bad breath faster than you might think. Using these methods also means you won’t be wasting money on chemical treatments that only harm your mouth and teeth. Try a quick bad breath cure like chewing parsley temporarily, but also take time to learn about how to cure bad breath for good, so you can get your self-confidence and your social life back.

About the Author

Kathy Aral writes about natural treatments for breath odor because she knows how frustrating the condition can be. Remember, though, some “natural cures” can actually make bad breath worse. Get the real truth about natural bad breath cures that will give you fresh breath for life.