“Yuck! Your breath sucks” is a statement which probably has the power to ruin anyone’s mood. Now, on the one hand, there might be people who are convinced that they have bad breath when their breath is entirely neutral, and on the other hand, there are such people who possess terrible breath but are unaware of that fact.
The detection of bad breath can result in being quite a challenging task for an individual as it is extremely difficult to smell one’s breath, let alone judge its Oder
One way out of this situation can be relying on any significant other who you know will give you an honest opinion however make sure u do that randomly in the middle of the day , and not right after gorging of an entire tuna sandwich with extra onions.
Origins of bad breath
There might be hundreds of reasons why a person might possess bad breath however it typically originates due to the presence of certain bacterias in our mouth .
After we complete any meal , bits of food get caught in our teeth . These bits turn out to be the breathing grounds of bacterias which releases foul smelling sulphur compounds .
The most common cause of bad breath is poor dental hygiene. We need to brush and floss our teeth regularly, the failure of this causes an influx in the bacteria present in our mouth, and a thin film of bacteria known as plaque builds up on our teeth. When this plaque isn’t brushed away at least twice per day, it produces an extremely foul odour and leads to another smelly and dangerous process, tooth decay .
It is extremely common for food to get stuck in our teeth however certain items like onion and garlic possess a greater tendency to cause bad breath. This happens as the digestion of these foods releases sulfur compounds into our bloodstream. When the blood reaches our lungs, it affects our breath.
Although the maximum amount of bad breath cases originate in the mouth, occasionally the source of the problem might come from elsewhere in the body. Now there might be reasons like acid influx, which leads to the partial regurgitation of foul-tasting liquid or it might also be problems like infections, diabetes complications, renal failure, etc. Moreover changing our daily diet or starting a diet like a keto diet, may also bring about a certain breath odor.
Home remedies for bad breath :
Good dental hygiene:-
The most common cause of bad breath as per research is a poor dental hygiene . Plaque accumulation in our mouth as we know is the key reason of bad breath can be completely avoided if one maintains a good dental hygiene routine.
As a start one should always brush their teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes at least . It is better advised to brush after every meal to prevent decay and bad breath . To prevent bacteria from growing on bits of food stuck in our teeth , we should floss at least once per day .
To avoid bacterial growth on the tongue a practice known as tongue scraping can help to remove the thin layer of plaque that might have been accumulated. This process includes scraping out tongue atleast once per day using our toothbrush or a specialised tongue scraper .
Parsley:-
Parsley is an extremely popular folk remedy for bad breath . It is high in chlorophyll and has a fresh scent which thus suggests that it has deodorizing effect . Certain studies have also proven that parsley can effectively combat foul sulfur compounds.
To use parsley for bad breath one must chew on fresh leaves after every meal or buy a parsley dietary supplement.
Pineapple juice:-
Pineapple juice is considered to be one of the quickest and most effective treatments for bad breath. Although there is no evidence to back up this theory, anecdotal reports suggest that it works.
It is recommended to drink a glass of organic pineapple juice after every meal or chew on a pineapple slice for one to two minutes. However, it is important to remember to rinse our mouth of the sugars present in the fruit or the juice afterward.
Water:-
It has been seen in several researches that mouth dryness often causes bad breath. Saliva performs a very important role of keeping our mouth clean cause without it our mouths would have become a breeding ground for bacteria.
The reason behind our breath being worse in the morning is also caused as our mouth naturally dries up while we are asleep .
Thus prevention of bad mouth by keeping our body hydrated is extremely important . It is advised to drink atleast eight glasses of water a day .
Yogurt:-
Yogurt contains an extremely healthy bacteria known as lactobacillus . These healthy bacteria can help us combat bad bacterias in various part of our body like our gut .
Yogurt also proves to be quite effective in reducing bad breath. A study shows that after weeks of having yogurt, 80 percent of participants had a reduction in bad breath. Probiotics in yogurt are effective in reducing the severity of bad breath.
To use yogurt to fight bad breath, eat at least one serving per day of plain, nonfat yogurt.
Milk:-
A well know source which is proven to cure bad breath according to research is milk . A glass of milk after eating garlic can significantly improve “garlicky “ breath .
It is advices to drink milk after having any meal containing strong smelling elements like garlic and onion to cure bad breath.
Fennel or anise seeds:-
Since ancient times , fennel and anise seeds have been used as a mouth fresher . In parts of India, roasted fennel seeds are still used as “mukhwas,” or mouth fresheners, to cleanse after-dinner breath. They taste sweet and contain aromatic essential oils that give the breath a fresh scent.
Fennel and anise seeds can be eaten plain, roasted, or coated with sugar.
Orange:-
Oranges are an extremely useful fruit. They not only can make healthy breakfast but also has the capability to promote dental hygiene.
Oranges are extremely rich in vitamin c . Now studies show that vitamin c helps to increase saliva production which can eliminate bad breath .
Zinc:-
Zinc salts which are also commonly found in a lot of mouthwashes and chewing gum can counteract bad breath . Certain scientific researches have shown that rinsing with a solution containing zinc can be effective in reducing bad breath for at least six months.Using zinc chewing gums or zinc dietary supplements can also prove to be effective.
Green Tea:-
An effective home remedy for bad breath is green tea . Research shows that it has disinfectant and deodorising which can make our breath smell ten times better . Mint too has similar effects , so a cup of green mint tea should be the ideal mouth freshener .
Apples:-
Research shows that raw apples have a powerful effect against garlic breath. Certain natural compounds in apples neutralize the foul-smelling compounds in garlic. This is particularly useful for people whose garlic breath lingers because it neutralizes the compounds in the bloodstream, rather than just deodorizing the mouth.
House-made mouthwash with baking soda:-
Researches shows that baking soda also known as sodium bicarbonate can effectively kill bacteria in our mouth . Toothpaste containing highly effective are much more effective in the mouth.
To make this baking soda mouthwash we need to add 2 teaspoons of baking soda to one cup of warm water, then we need to swish the mouthwash around in our mouth for about thirty seconds before spitting it out.
When to see a doctor:-
Most bad breath originates in the mouth and can be treated with improved dental hygiene. In some cases, however, bad breath is a sign of a more serious condition such diabetic ketoacidosis kidney failure, or an infection . If out breath isn’t improving with home treatment then we need to consult our doctor or dentist.
Visit Ur’s Toothfully Full Mouth Rehabilitation and Implant Centre for professional dental services in Park Street, Alipore & Salt Lake in Kolkata.
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