How to Get Rid of Bad Breath?

Many of us might not even know when our breath becomes problematic. Surely, we cannot always smell the odor of our own breath. However, bad breath is a common problem that frequently plagues individuals. Are you in search of how to get rid of bad breath?

Bad breath can be caused due to numerous reasons, including one’s dietary habits, smoking needs, and poor oral hygiene. Some experience it infrequently, while others may have a long-term problem.

However frequent your bad breath may be and what the cause is, luckily, there are numerous home remedies that can help you get rid of it. In this article, we will go over all of these.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Before we discuss the home remedies for bad breath, it might be worthwhile to know what causes it in the first place. This will help you determine how to prevent it from happening again. Bad breath is also known as halitosis. The most frequent cause of halitosis is improper dental hygiene, which mainly includes not brushing your teeth or flossing regularly.

When you don’t do this, food bits tend to remain in your gums and teeth. Over time they break down and transform into bacteria. The bacteria grow to a thin layer of plaque. When not removed, the plaque releases a foul smell.

While most of the causes of foul breath are related to the mouth, there can be other factors influencing your foul breath in some cases. For example, smoking habits, acid reflux, diabetes complications, infections, etc.

How to Get Rid of Bad Breath?

It is easy to keep your gums and teeth clean and healthy and get rid of bad breath. Here are some home remedies to keep your mouth clean, fresh, and free of any foul odors:

1.     Water 

Lack of saliva in your mouth causes bacteria to grow. This, in turn, leads to bad breath. When we are dehydrated and our mouths are dry, we might experience this foul odor from our mouths.

Hence, you should wash it down with some water. Additionally, keeping yourself hydrated will also prevent bad breath from developing.

2.     Parsley

Parsley is a defense against bad breath because of how fresh it is and its high content of chlorophyll. For years, it has been believed to clean the mouth and rid it of its bad odor. Hence, you can try this remedy out. You can simply chew on a few parsley leafs or get a parsley supplement.

3.     Pineapple Juice

It is popularly believed that pineapple juice can be an effective remedy for bad breath. However, scarce scientific research backs this up. You can try this remedy out to see its result yourself. Simply drink some pineapple juice after consuming food or eat a pineapple slice, chewing it for a minute or two.

Don’t forget to rinse or brush off the sugar and fluids from your mouth later; otherwise, the bacteria might develop.

4.     Brush and Floss More Often

Since the most significant cause of bad breath is poor dental hygiene, the best cure is to improve your dental hygiene habits. This includes brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day.

Doing so will prevent decay and bacteria from developing, which as a result, will reduce the occurrence of bad breath. This is mainly because you will clean the mouth and remove all food bits.

5.     Yogurt

Studies show that yogurt is quite effective in combating and getting rid of bad breath. This is mainly because of the bacteria in the yogurt, which are known to be the ‘good’ bacteria. They fight off the bad bacteria in our mouths. Moreover, yogurt is also chock-full of probiotics, which are great at reducing the potency of the foul odor in the mouth.

Hence, if you have bad breath, consider having a serving of nonfat yogurt.

6.     Avoid Foods that Cause Bad Breath

Onion and garlic are major foods that can cause bad breath, which is why you should avoid eating them. Even if you brush your teeth and rinse your mouth after consuming them, bad breath will not be avoided. This is because the food molecules enter your bloodstream and travel to your lungs, where your bad breath comes from.

7.     Oranges 

Did you know that oranges enhance dental hygiene?

The fruit contains tons of vitamin C, which helps with saliva production in the mouth. And since lack of saliva is another culprit causing bad breath, consuming vitamin C can produce the saliva to eliminate the foul odor.

8.     Apples

If you have consumed garlic and your bad breath is lingering, you should consider eating a raw apple. The fruit contains compounds that neutralize the compounds of garlic responsible for causing bad breath. In fact, research also attests to their effectiveness. The apples will not only deodorize the mouth, but they will also neutralize the harmful compound in the body. As a result, your lingering bad breath caused by garlic will be eliminated.

9.     Homemade Mouthwash

Most toothpaste contains a significant amount of baking soda, which is also called sodium bicarbonate. This is why making a homemade mouthwash containing baking soda will help wash out the bacteria and eliminate bad breath. Studies show that this ingredient can be highly effective in getting rid of bad breath. 

To make this homemade mouthwash, simply mix two teaspoons of soda with one cup of water. Keep the mixture in your mouth for a minute, and then spit it out.

10. Zinc 

Zinc is a common ingredient found in chewing gums and mouthwashes. This is because the ingredient is highly effective in breaking down bacteria and ridding you of bad breath. Hence, you should consider using mouthwashes or chewing gums with zinc in them. Alternatively, you can also opt for zinc supplements to help with chronic bad breath.

Despite all of these efforts, if your bad breath is still persistent, you should consider seeing a doctor. Book an appointment at Dr. Paul’s Dental Clinic and get a consultation from one of the best dentists in Dubai has to offer.