Halitosis Herbal Remedies

BAD BREATH (HALITOSIS)

BENEFICIAL HERBS

  • Aloe vera gel cleanses the digestive tract and aids in the healing of mouth sores
  • Alcohol-free goldenseal extract can help heal infected gums or mouth sores, which is a major factor in bad breath. Place the goldenseal extract on a piece of cotton and place over the infected areas. Do this for two hours per day for three days.
  • Peppermint, rosemary, and sage can help sweeten the breath. Caution: Do not use sage if you suffer from epilepsy or other seizure disorder.
  • A gargle and mouthwash made up of 30 drops of myrrh in a glass of warm water helps to keep breath sweet. Myrrh helps heal mouth sores and sore throats.
  • Cloves, fennel or anise sweetens the breath and aids in digestion
  • Chew a few dill seeds, a sprig of parsley, or coffee beans to avoid food odors.
  • Alfalfa supplies chlorophyll that helps clean the blood stream and colon, where bad breath often begins.
  • Ginger, horseradish, mustard and cinnamon are all good for the sinuses.
  • Cascara sagrada is a natural laxative that can help constipation, which has been associated with bad breath.

DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Drink fresh lemon juice water daily
  • Chew gum or hard candy if you have trouble with a dry mouth or are taking a medication that causes a dry mouth.
  • Raw fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots help to keep the mouth clean between brushings
  • Drink water after meals to remove food particles, and rinse your mouth out if you can
  • Drink fresh lemon juice water daily
  • Chew gum or hard candy if you have trouble with a dry mouth or are taking a medication that causes a dry mouth.
  • Raw fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots help to keep the mouth clean between brushings
  • Drink water after meals to remove food particles, and rinse your mouth out if you can
  • Avoid spicy foods, whose odors can linger for hours. Foods like anchovies, blue cheese, Camembert, garlic, onions, pastrami, pepperoni, Roquefort cheese, salami, and tuna leave oils in the mouth that can release odor for up to twenty-four hours, no matter how much you brush or gargle.
  • Beer, coffee, whiskey, and wine leave residues that stick to the soft, sticky plaque on teeth and get into the digestive system. Each exhalation releases their odor back into the air.
  • Avoid foods that get stuck between the teeth easily or that cause tooth decay, such as meat, stringy vegetables, and sweets, especially sticky sweets.
  • Constipation, ulcers, chronic chest congestion, bronchitis, tonsillitis, oral thrush, lung abscess, sinus problems, catarrh and indigestion can all provoke bad breath.

NON DIETARY TIPS

  1. Brush your teeth and tongue after every meal.
  2. Use dental floss and a chlorophyll mouthwash daily.
  3. Massage carefully your gums around the teeth with the soft bristles. Use a rotating motion that does not pull your gums away from the teeth
  4. Keep your toothbrush clean. Between uses, store it in hydrogen peroxide or grapefruit seed extract to kill bacteria (if using hydrogen peroxide, rinse it well before brushing). There are bacteria-destroying toothbrush sanitizers available that turn on automatically at intervals throughout the day.
  5. Replace your toothbrush every 2-3months, as well as after any infectious illness, to prevent bacteria buildup.
  6. Do not use commercial mouthwashes. Most contain nothing more than flavoring, dye, and alcohol. While they may kill the bacteria that cause bad breath, they also kill the good ones too and the bacteria soon return in greater force. Mouthwashes can also irritate the gums, tongue, and mucous membranes in the mouth.
  7. Have your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice yearly.

In some cases, herbal products can interact negatively with other medications.  Such interactions can be dangerous.  Herbal remedies are not regulated and their quality is not controlled.  Moreover, while there is an abundant supply of information circulating about herbs, not much of it has been scientifically proven.  Consult your physician.  Informing your doctor and pharmacist of what herbal products you are using is just as important as letting them know what drugs you are taking.  Your physician and the pharmacist on duty at your pharmacy can assist you in deciding which herbs
are safe.