Natural Remedies to Cure Bad Breath
There are few things more unpleasant than talking to someone with bad breath. Eating a mint or a piece of gum is many people’s go-to solution, as it quickly masks the problem, but this approach often fails to address the root causes of bad breath. The reality is that bad breath can be caused by some health conditions, foods and/or habits.
Regularly brushing, especially after meals, as well as flossing daily, and getting periodic teeth cleanings are, of course, the first places to start when addressing bad breath issues. But if the problem persists beyond all this, you may need to take additional steps. Below are 4 natural remedies that could help with your halitosis.
- Eat More Raw Foods - Crunchy, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables can help cleanse your mouth of food particles that can cling to your teeth and tongue between meals.
- Drink More Water - Bad breath is common when your mouth's dry. You may find relief if you drink plenty of water each day. Many medicines can cause the dryness. Also, some people breathe through their mouths which dries out the teeth and tongue, and can cause odors.
- Take a Zinc Supplement - Another common cause of halitosis is a deficiency in zinc, which helps maintain a clean, bacteria-free mouth. Some mouthwash products contain zinc as an active ingredient because the mineral is a known antimicrobial, and aids in the neutralization and elimination of harmful germs. But supplementing with oral zinc and eating more zinc-rich foods like pumpkin and cacao might be an even better approach, as it can help address the problem systemically.
- Take a Daily Probiotic - Poor gut health is another common cause of bad breath. If your digestive tract is overloaded with built-up toxins or if routine antibiotic use and poor dietary habits have left your digestive system in shambles, bad breath could be a side effect of another underlying problem. The reason for this is that these conditions create an excess of gas in your body, and much of that gas exits through your mouth.
