Few things ruin a bright smile quite like bad breath. Whether you’ve just eaten a whole loaf of garlic bread—we’re not judging—or you have an underlying oral health issue, bad breath can dampen your shine.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of natural remedies for bad breath that you can prepare at home so that you can smile from ear to ear without fear.
Brush and Floss
There’s no better cure for bad breath than good oral hygiene. Flossing and brushing your teeth twice daily is the bare minimum to maintain a pristine smile that won’t wilt flowers and send woodland creatures scurrying away.
Using an oral rinse, like an antiseptic mouthwash, is the perfect way to finish off your twice-daily oral and dental care routine so kill off bad bacteria and wash away food particles.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking water is the easiest way to beat back noxious breath odours. Odour-causing bacteria love nothing more than a dry mouth—except maybe for sugary foods and that garlic bread you just can’t say no to.
Drinking water and staying hydrated allows you to produce more saliva that washes away bad bacteria and can alleviate bad breath. Not to mention, water is just refreshing.
Chewing Gum
Parents and teachers might not be the biggest fan of chewing gum but your dentist thinks it’s great.
Quite apart from the fact that chewing gum comes in odour-eliminating flavours like “Alpine Mint” and “Forest Freshness”, it also encourages the production of saliva. Saliva, as we know, washes away odour-causing bacteria and it helps to remineralize your teeth.
If possible, opt for the sugar-free option. There are even some medicinal chewing gums with essential oils that can help fend off gum disease—just don’t stick it under the dining room table when you’re done.
Homemade Mouthwash
Formulating your own homemade mouthwash is easier than you might think—no beakers and Bunsen burners needed.
The simplest homemade mouthwash is just baking soda and water. Simply mix a couple of teaspoons of baking soda into a glass of water and rinse your way to an odour-free smile.
For those who want a healthier mouth, try adding tea tree oil, activated carbon and apple cider vinegar. These added ingredients have strong antimicrobial properties that can help you fend off gum disease and tooth decay.
Warm salt water rinses are another great alternative to commercial antiseptic mouthwashes. Similar to a baking soda mouthwash, just add a couple of teaspoons of salt to a cup of water and rinse the odour down the drain. Try to avoid swallowing the salt water as it has a dehydrating effect—and we know dehydration leads to more bad breath.
Tongue Scrapers
Did you know that most of the bacteria in your mouth actually live on your tongue? If you’re experiencing a bout of bad breath, the culprit is likely lurking around your tastebuds.
Scrape your tongue with a tongue scraper to remove excess bacteria—called a biofilm—and feel your smile getting cleaner. It is entirely possible to injure your tongue while scraping it so make sure to use either a dedicated tongue scraper or tongue brush.
Eat Well
They say that an apple a day can keep the doctor away, but did you know that it could also keep bad breath at bay?
Fruits and vegetables such as apples, oranges and carrots are rich in vitamins and minerals that odour-causing bacteria don’t like. A diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables can ward off bad breath and burgeoning waistlines—it’s a win, win.
Additionally, some fruits such as apples and pears are firm and fibrous yet gentle enough to act kind of like toothbrushes, removing plaque buildup as you chew. You’ll still want to brush your teeth though—if they survive your Red Delicious, bacteria will snack on the food particles left over in your mouth.
Fight the Bad with the Good
Maybe it’s because of bad breath—or the Black Death—but bacteria have a bad reputation. The thing is, not all bacteria are bad.
A 2016 study found that the human body is home to 38 billion—yes, billion—bacteria cells. If they were all bad, then every human would be severely outnumbered. Fortunately for us, most of the bacteria that call our bodies home are either perfectly harmless or beneficial—some of them even keep us safe from dangerous pathogens.
When it comes to bad breath, taking probiotics can reinforce the good guys and help your bacterial buddies to combat the odour-causing baddies. This is particularly true for bad breath that originates from the lungs and stomach.
Dawson Dental Hanover
If you’ve tried sugar-free chewing gum while simultaneously scraping your tongue and eating an apple stuffed with probiotics and you still have bad breath, it’s time to call the dentist.
At Dawson Dental Hanover, brightening smiles and detoxifying breath are what we do best. Book your next appointment with us today and let’s get you a minty fresh smile that even makes laundry smell bad.