Bad breath medically known as halitosis, is an unpleasant smell coming from the mouth.
Bad breath can originate both inside and outside of the mouth, and this can be as a result of poor dental health habits, or the type of food we eat like spicy food (Garlic, Onions etc.) or strong flavoured drink like coffee or other unhealthy lifestyle like smoking or from an underlying health problem such as tonsillitis, respiratory infections such as sinusitis or bronchitis, and some gastrointestinal diseases, advanced liver or kidney disease and uncontrolled diabetes to mention a few.
In the case of an underlying health condition causing bad breath, it is better you seek medical attention to treat the underlying cause because practising good oral hygiene and using natural remedies alone cannot eliminate the bad breath.
Here are some natural helpful tips and natural remedies to improve bad breath:
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day, after meals, with a fluoridated toothpaste.
• Avoid tobacco smoking and chewing tobacco-based products.
• Brush your teeth before bed.
• After taking strong odour herb like Garlic, eat green leafy vegetable like Basil ( Efirin), Parsley etc to kill the odour of the Garlic.
• To control bad breath, chew 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) of Fennel seeds.
• Mix 1 tsp Baking soda in a glass of warm water. Use it to gargle. Or take 1 (tablespoon) tbs of Baking soda. Mix it in a cup of water. Swish with this water twice a day.
• Take 4 to 5 fresh Basil (Efirin in Yoruba) leaves. Chew them and drink water. Do it twice a day.
• Squeeze a Lemon in half glass of water. Gargle with this water twice a day.
• Take 1 tsp of Fenugreek seeds. Boil in one cup of water. Take it as tea. You may add honey, if you don’t like its taste.
• Take 1 tsp of Cinnamon powder. Boil in a cup of water. Use it as mouth wash.
• Chew the twigs of Azadirachta Indica (Neem, locally known as Dogoyaro) to get rid of dental problems.
• Add 4-5 drops of Oregano oil in drinking water. Drink this water whole day. Or rub Oregano leaf oil on the teeth and gums at bed time.
• Add an equal quantity of half teaspoon of Black Pepper and Salt to a glass of water. Stir well and use it to gargle.
• Take 1 tsp of Sunflower oil. Swish until it becomes thin. It helps to take away bad breath.
• Consume 1 tsp of Olive oil with 1 tsp of Lemon juice on an empty stomach.
• If you are suffering from bad breath due to plaque and bacteria, Apple Cider Vinegar is a good solution. Gargle with Apple cider vinegar twice a day.
By Homeopath Oluwafunmise www.farmherbalpro.com 08028366901