6 Home Remedies for Bad Breath

If you're like me, you never want to force your possible bad breath on an innocent bystander. And, when you're in a social situation, you cannot just breathe into your cupped hand to check. Popping mints and gum might mask bad breath for a little while, but those methods do not deal with the underlying problem. Several home remedies for bad breath are out there that address the two reasons for bad breath: oral hygiene difficulties and digestive tract problems; you just need to learn what those home remedies are.

Oral Hygiene

1. Drink Water

This first of the bad breath remedies is so basic you might not have even considered it: drinking more water. The Mayo Clinic says that when you don't drink enough water, your mouth can become too dry to wash away bacteria and food particles. Keeping your mouth moist helps wash all that nasty stuff away.

2. Rinse with Mouthwash

Using mouthwash works the same way water does; it rinses away bacteria and food particles. But it's important to choose a mouthwash that does not contain alcohol, which can actually contribute to bad breath. Alcohol dries out the mouth, and we now know from the Mayo Clinic that dry mouth encourages bacteria that cause bad breath.

3. Brush Your Tongue

Beside brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day, you need to brush your tongue if you have bad breath. Bacteria can collect there. Brush as far back as you can using a toothbrush or a tongue scraper.

Digestive Tract Health

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 4. Eat Celery, Apples and Carrots

Celery, apples and carrots have a high fiber count. You need to chew fibrous foods well, which produces saliva in your mouth, a cleansing agent. Fibrous fruits and vegetables can also help break down plaque and sulfur compounds, which contribute to bad breath. Note that a white coating on your tongue indicates you have high sulfur content in your mouth, explains Jonathan B. Levine, a world-renowned dentist.

5. Eat Foods with Vitamin C

Fruits that contain vitamin C, such as blueberries and citrus fruits, create an unfriendly environment for bacteria. And vitamin C does double duty as a bad breath remedy because it helps prevent gum disease, which leads to bad breath. You cannot substitute vitamin C supplements for food to fight bad breath because the supplements could upset your stomach, which could cause bad breath, according to Cynthia Sass, a registered dietician and ADA spokesperson.

6. Drink Black Tea

Black tea contains polyphenols that kill bacteria responsible for bad breath, according to 2003 research conducted by scientists at the University of Illinois. The polyphenols in the black tea also help prevent plaque from forming on teeth. Black tea specifically helps to get rid of the sulfurous rotten egg smell.

Do you have any tried and true bad breath remedies? If so, let me know comment section below!