Home Remedies for Bad Breath (Halitosis)

What is Bad Breath

It is called “Halitosis” in dentistry. It is the most common problem every individual faces in their life. It feels too embarrassing if others avoid you because you have bad breath. It affects one’s personal and professional life to a great extent. It lowers self-confidence and affects one’s ability to interact with people.

Halitosis is bad breath that might occur to anybody and is associated with dental or gum problems. This problem can go unnoticed by people themselves who are suffering from it.

Top 5 Bad Breath Tests at Home

Are you curious how to check whether you suffer from bad breath? If you answer yes, the following tests of bad breath can be done in the comfort of your home and will help you.

Test 1: Push your tongue out of the mouth and see whether the tongue’s color has changed in the mirror. If the color has changed, then you are suffering from bad breath.

• White color indicates disagreeable or bad odor
• Yellow color is the sign of chronic foul odor or breath

Test 2: Lick one’s wrist or back part of the arm and leave the saliva to dry for a few minutes. After 2-3 minutes, one must smell the dry saliva; if it smells unpleasant, one suffers from bad breath or Halitosis.

Test 3: Take a small piece of cotton and wipe it on the upper surface of one’s tongue, then smell it. If it smells unpleasant and is slightly yellow, then you can be clear that you have bad breath.

Test 4: Another best way to test lousy breath is to move the floss in your mouth back and forth and then smell it from a little distance; if you get a foul odor, then you have bad breath, which even the people around you can recognize.

Test 5: From all the tests mentioned above, the best way to check lousy odor is to ask someone who is close to you and one who will not make you feel embarrassed or uneasy. The truth can be bitter, but it will help you prevent it.

Home remedies for bad breath (Halitosis)

• Fenugreek tea: Fenugreek tea is one of the most efficient home remedies for bad breath. To make fenugreek tea, add 1 tsp of fenugreek seed in half a liter of water and leave it on low flame for 15 minutes. Strain it properly and use it twice a day
• Guava: Chewing unripe Guava helps in curing bleeding gums and bad breath. Chewing leaves of Guava also cures bleeding from gums and helps in eliminating bad breath
• Raw juice: Any or all types of fruit and vegetable juices are beneficial for people with Halitosis. Juices from green vegetables should be preferred over fruit juices for faster results
• Avocado: Avocado helps in removing intestinal decomposition, which is one of the primary causes of bad breath
• Brush twice a day: Brush twice a day and keep your mouth clean. Floss at least 4-5 times a week. Small food particles which get trapped between teeth and gums are going to smell bad and could lead to bad breath
• Avoid foods like garlic and onions
• Stop smoking: Tobacco stains the teeth, irritates gum tissues, and is one of the major causes of bad breath
• Parsley: Parsley helps in masking garlic, which is the most problematic food item for bad breath

Causes of bad breath (Halitosis)

• The Primary and most common cause of bad breath is diseased gums. Any dental decay in the roots of the teeth could give rise to abscesses in the gum, which discharges bad-smelling pus. This pus is responsible for foul odor in the breath
• Any hole in the teeth could host germs, which in turn could multiply and release foul smells
• Diseases like chronic tonsillitis, bronchitis, chronic gastritis and sinusitis,
• Severe constipation or some types of gastrointestinal disorders

Other Treatment Options for Bad Breath

• Brush your teeth regularly and properly
• Floss regularly after each meal
• Maintain a good oral hygiene
• Avoid smoking and drinking

Though bad breath is not a severe health problem, it plays a vital role in one’s life. These simple preventive measures will help you to prevent bad breath.