Natural Cure for Halitosis

The simplest and most natural cure for halitosis (bad breath) is just good oral hygiene. Keeping your mouth clean and healthy will go a long way toward improving your breath. Elements of a good oral hygiene routine include brushing your teeth after each meal and flossing between your teeth at least once a day. You can gently scrape or brush your tongue as well, being sure to get the area right at the back of the tongue as much as possible. See your dentist once or twice a year for a thorough cleaning and a professional assessment of your oral health. A dentist can alert you to early signs of tooth decay and gum disease, and help you treat these conditions. If you're doing all this, you're off to a good start, but unfortunately, bad breath can still occur.

Typically, bad breath is the odor associated with the production of what are called volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) by bacteria that are living in the mouth. These bacteria break down proteins for nutrients, producing the VSC as a byproduct. The more of these bacteria you have in your mouth, the more VSC will be produced: because of a large population of these bacteria, some people have persistent halitosis and medication can help. Prescription drugs for bad breath are not commonly used: most treatments will involve an over the counter medicinal product, or a natural cure for halitosis.

The best bad breath remedies aim to kill or remove VSC producing bacteria in the mouth. Antibacterial compounds such as chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, and chlorine dioxide have been proven to kill bacteria. They alleviate halitosis and medication on the market often contains these chemicals. Not surprisingly, however, many people are reluctant to use these products and they shop for a natural cure for halitosis before resorting to the chemical formulas.

Home remedies for bad breath include such things as mixing baking soda with hydrogen peroxide for a homemade mouthwash, chewing on sprigs of fresh mint or whole cloves, brushing with baking soda, and even chewing sunflower seeds. Each of these is worth trying as a natural cure for halitosis, and if it works, you won't need to look further. If you want to try a commercial product, however, these are also available. Some brands have an extensive line of oral care products, treatments for halitosis and medications that contain natural ingredients for getting rid of the bacteria without harming you.

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to Natural Cure for Halitosis, a blog dedicated to the treatment of bad breath.

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