31 Jan Natural Ways to Fight Bad Breath in Prescott
Bad breath, or halitosis, can be frustrating and embarrassing. It can be caused by certain foods, poor oral hygiene, gum disease, dry mouth, tobacco, odor-causing bacteria, not cleaning dentures properly, or it may be a symptom of another health condition. At Prescott Dentistry, we want your mouth to be healthy and beautiful. In addition to your regular oral hygiene, here are some easy, natural ways to fight bad breath in Prescott.
Stay Hydrated
Dry mouth is one of the leading causes of bad breath. Drinking plenty of water can help boost saliva production, which helps fight bad breath. Water also flushes bacteria out of the mouth.
Scrape your Tongue
Scrape your tongue each morning with a tongue scraper to remove bacteria, fungi, and dead cells that can cause odor.
Chew a handful of Herbs or Spices
Parsley is a popular remedy for bad breath because of its high chlorophyll content. Fennel and anise seeds have been used as a breath freshener in India for a long time. This is because when chewed, they release aromatic essential oils that contain antiseptic properties. Chewing on any of these after meals can help fight bad breath.
Chew a Piece of Lemon or Orange Rind
The citric acid will stimulate the salivary glands and help the body to naturally combat bad breath. Just be sure to buy organic and thoroughly wash the rind first.
Chew Xylitol Gum
Xylitol kills bacteria and prevents plaque buildup on your teeth. The act of chewing gum also helps remove bacteria from your mouth. Check out this blog post about Xylitol that we shared back in October.
Swish with a Natural Mouthwash
Alcohol-free mouthwashes such as the ones we mentioned in this blog post, are a great way to treat bad breath. Swishing with baking soda water is also an effective treatment. Just add 2 teaspoons to one cup of warm water and swish for 30 seconds.
Eat Raw, Crunchy Foods
These foods clean the teeth. Apples are an especially good choice. They contain a compound called pectin that can help neutralize the foul-smelling compounds in garlic, both in the mouth and in the bloodstream.
Drink Green Tea
Green tea has been shown to be very effective in temporarily improving bad breath.
If your breath doesn’t improve with these natural ways to fight bad breath, be sure to come in and see us, as something more serious may be causing it. As a reminder, these are suggestions to be used in addition to your regular daily oral hygiene and your regular appointments with us here at Prescott Dentistry. Be sure to ask about our holistic preventative options for fighting bacteria if your bad breath is an ongoing problem!
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (1/31/2019) Pixaby