Try Some of These Natural Remedies for Kiss-Friendly Breath
Try Some of These Natural Remedies for Kiss-Friendly Breath
Have you leaned over to give your sweetie a kiss and they put their hand up between your lips and theirs? It wasn’t because they did not want to kiss you. It was because they did not want to be near the odor escaping your mouth. Other than daily brushing and flossing, are there other ways to fight halitosis? How effective are natural remedies towards bad breath? Do they provide a solution or simply cover up halitosis?
The bacterium found in the average mouth accumulates mostly on the person’s tongue towards the back and is one cause of halitosis. The anaerobic bacteria, which feed upon food debris, soon produce what is called Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSC). These Volatile Sulfur Compounds smell similar to rotten eggs. Bad breath odor can also come from certain foods after they are digested and this odor emanates from the lungs.
The use of a tongue scraper can be beneficial in removing some of the bacteria from the back of your tongue. Be gentle though and if you don’t notice an improvement, don’t scrape harder.
What is a Mouth Oxygenator? The bacteria in your mouth that produce foul odors are anaerobic, meaning they don’t require oxygen to live. By deluging these bacteria with oxygen it actually helps reduce the amount in your mouth.
When purchasing mouthwashes look for those that contain Cetylpyridinium chloride and zinc chloride. A mouthwash that does not contain these ingredients will mask the odor for a limited amount of time but give no long lasting results to eliminating the odor of bad breath. Also Hydrogen Peroxide is a great rinse because it release oxygen and the bacteria in the mouth thrive in an environment without oxygen.
Another great product that you can buy almost anywhere is called a “water pik”. The purpose of a water pik is to knock the food particles out from between the teeth, which is beneficial in fighting bad breath. You can purchase a water pik that will take batteries so that it is portable.
Baking soda is another good bad-breath fighter. While the taste is bitter to some, the properties of baking soda are beneficial to destroying odors. That is why many people put it in the refrigerators and sprinkle it on carpets before vacuuming. In addition, there are several brands of toothpaste on the market now that contain baking soda and are not as bad as dipping your toothbrush in the baking soda box.
Eating properly will also help to eliminate the noxious odor. Therefore, if you chew on snacks such as fresh vegetables, which are high in acids and fiber that will kill much of the bacteria, as opposed to candy, chips, and cookies this will help to keep plaque from forming. You could also rinse the mouth with mint, or chew parsley or basil leaves. Also to aid in maintaining healthy gums, add citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, lemon, lime), guavas or pomegranates in the diet as these fruits contain large quantities of vitamin C. Massaging the gums daily with a mixture of salt, black pepper, turmeric and sesame oil is also beneficial. A tea made of the leaves from Wintergreen makes an effective mouthwash and gargle for the mouth and throat.
Hydrogen Peroxide is an effective rinse because it adds oxygen to the bacteria that thrive in an environment where little to no oxygen exists thus effectively killing the anaerobic bacteria. Although if you do not have this handy using plain water will also help loosen up the foods and particles that have become lodged between the teeth and gums. If you leave them there, the bacteria causing the odors, think you left them a buffet and will dine to their delight and to your horror as your breath becomes worse.
Vegan diets are exempt of animal protein and animal fat. Vegetarians, especially vegans, have diets that are lower in saturated fat and trans fat, as well as cholesterol. In addition, vegan diets have higher fiber than non-vegetarian diets. Because of this, vegetarians are less likely to develop halitosis. Bad breath that is caused by oral bacteria is primarily produced by the odorous waste products these bacteria create as they digest proteins. This would imply that those people with a vegetarian diet and who have diets high in fruit and vegetable consumption will most likely have less of a problem with chronic bad breath than those who have diets high in protein rich foods such as meat.