Bad breath or Halitosis can cause an unpleasant taste in your mouth. It also lowers your self confidence and morale. A person suffering from bad breath hesitates from mingling with people and she/he isolates herself /himself from the society.
The problem of bad breath occurs due to bacteria formation in the mouth, gum infection and improper dental care. People find the remedies for bad breath in commercially prepared dental care products like tooth pastes, mouth cleansers and mouth freshening chewing gums.
Several herbs have antiseptic properties that help to cure bad breath and fight bacteria formation. These herbs are easily available in the market and some of them are used in your daily cooking too. You can use these herbs in form of mouth wash, mouth freshener and tooth powder for bad breath.
The Best Herbs for Bad Breath
Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds have a sweet fragrance and they are used as a mouth freshener for bad breath. In India fennel is offered after meals to aid digestion as well as to prevent bad odour from the mouth that may be caused by food items like garlic and onion. Roasted fennel seeds work better for bad breath than raw fennel seeds.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek seeds are extremely beneficial for treating bad breath. Tea prepared with fenugreek seeds help to remove toxins from the body; it cleanses the blood and accumulated mucus from the oral tract. You should consume fenugreek tea twice a day to get rid of bad breath.
Mint
Mint contains menthol which is a key ingredient used in commercially prepared toothpaste and mouthwash. It stimulates saliva secretion and works as a natural mouth freshener. Chewing 5-7 fresh mint leaves after meals or in morning gives you relief from bad breath.
Sage
Sage contains anti bacterial properties that help to fight bad breath by eliminating the cause. It treats the problem of bleeding gums (gingivitis), which is one of the main factors for bad breath. Fresh sage leaves can be chewed to fight bad breath or you can boil a few sage leaves in water. Strain it and drink the tea for desired results. Rub crushed sage leaves on your teeth and gums to treat infection and halitosis.
Neem
Neem is anti bacterial and antiseptic. Chewing the neem bark is an age old tradition for maintaining dental health. It cleanses the mouth, fights against bacteria and mouth odour. You can chew fresh neem leaves for 5-10 minutes and spit them out to treat bad breath. Make a decoction with neem leaves and use it as a mouthwash after meals.
Clove
Cloves are commonly used in Indian Cuisine. It is found in dried form and has a strong aroma. Clove oil is extremely beneficial for treating dental problems like gum infections, toothache and cavity. It treats the cause for bad breath and helps you to fight bad breath. Clove buds can be chewed after meals or a decoction can be prepared with 2-3 cloves boiled in one cup water. You can use the decoction as mouthwash to cure bad breath.
Parsley
Parsley is a popular herb all around the world. It is highly nutritious and delicious. Fresh parsley is used for culinary purpose to enhance the taste and appearance of the dishes. Parsley has a strong aroma and it helps to deal with bad breath when used as a mouth cleanser. Boil a few fresh parsley leaves in water, strain it and use as mouthwash to freshen up the breath.
Green Cardamom
Green cardamom helps to fight bad breath as it has a pleasing fragrance which works as a mouth freshener. Chew 1-2 green cardamoms along with fennel seeds after meals to remove bad breath.
Coriander Seeds
Coriander seeds have an aromatic flavour. They help to fight garlic and onion odour effectively. Chew 1 tea spoon roasted coriander seeds after meals or boil the same amount in one cup water for 2-3 minutes. Strain the water and use it as mouth wash.
Green Tea
Green tea contains polyphenols that help to fight bacterial infection in the mouth. Green tea reduces sulphuric compounds that cause bad breath. Drinking 1-2 cups of green tea every day help to eliminate bad breath.
Thyme
Thyme helps to fight gum infections and bacteria formation in the mouth. It is a natural source of thymol, which is the antiseptic ingredient used in mouthwash. Thyme is a popular herb and it is easily available in fresh and dried form. You can prepare tea with dried thyme and use it as mouth wash to fight bad breath.
Basil
Basil leaves cure various types of infections and bacterial growth in the mouth and help to treat bad breath. Chew 4-5 fresh basil leaves first thing in the morning to refresh your mouth. Basil tea is used as mouth wash after meals to eliminate garlic and onion odour.
Dill
Dill is an effective herb for combating bad breath. It contains chlorophyll, a compound used in oral treatments to cure dental ailments. Dill seeds are useful for eliminating bad breath. Chew dill seeds after meals or prepare tea with crushed seeds to refresh your breath after meals.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a good mouth freshener as it contains volatile oils that eliminate bacteria and helps to cure bad breath. Suck a small piece of cinnamon stick after meals to freshen up your breath. Spit out the cinnamon stick after 2-3 minutes.
Bergamot
Bergamot is a small herb that has many medicinal virtues. Like thyme it also contains thymol and it is used in dried form to make bergamot tea. You can use the tea as a mouth wash. Bergamot essential oil is also used to treat dental problems. For bad breath, dissolve 2-3 bergamot essential oil in a cup of water and use it as mouthwash.
Betel Leaf
Betel leaf is used to treat bad breath as it refreshes the mouth when chewed after meals. It also aids digestion. Another way of using betel leaf for bad breath is to make a decoction by boiling 2-3 betel leaves in two glasses of water till it is reduced to half. Strain and cool the mixture and use it to rinse your mouth after meals.
Caution: Please use Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.
