Home remedies for bad breath

Cinnamon or commonly known as daalachini is a common kitchen herb. And just like most spices, cinnamon is loaded with medicinal benefits. It has been used since long as a natural mouth freshener. Various studies have been conducted to find the mechanism by which cinnamon tackles bad breath problems and it has been found that cinnamon has potent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It creates a hostile environment for bacteria, preventing their overgrowth in the oral cavity. Cinnamon oil has also been found to be effective in disrupting the biofilm formed by bacteria in the mouth.

Thus, regular use of cinnamon can help in reducing the growth of bacteria in the mouth and alleviating other oral problems that may be responsible for bad breath.

The best and the easiest way to use cinnamon for removing oral malodour is by chewing cinnamon sticks. You can also soak cinnamon stick overnight in an airtight container or mix the cinnamon powder into water and use it as a mouthwash.
Taking cinnamon in the form of tea helps relieve problems related to the stomach and throat, which may be the underlying conditions for bad breath.

Also known as methi, fenugreek is well known for reducing bad breath, especially when it occurs due to infection or bacterial growth. Fenugreek is said to have antibacterial properties, hence consumption of fenugreek regularly can be really helpful in getting rid of bad breath.

Furthermore, fenugreek helps soothe the digestive system and provide respite from upper respiratory tract infections, two of the most common causes of bad breath.

To get the maximum benefit from this spice, you can consume fenugreek in the form of a tea. Just soak fenugreek leaves or seeds in water overnight and consume the water after staining the very next day.

Clove is one of the most well-known herbs for alleviating oral problems. No wonder it is effective in reducing bad breath too. Studies indicate that clove has potent antibacterial properties, which assist in eliminating harmful bacteria from mouth, ultimately helping you get rid of bad breath.

Furthermore, cloves are used as a natural mouth freshener, so they can help you get rid of garlic breath too! To get the benefits from this earthy spice, you can chew on it or make clove tea. Apart from reducing bacterial growth in the mouth, clove tea helps relieve bad breath due to mucus accumulation in the respiratory tract.

Clove is also very useful to get rid of smokers mouth. For this, You need to clean your mouth with water after smoking and chew 1-2 cloves.

(Also read: Harmful effects of smoking and health benefits of quitting)

Lemon juice is mainly acid, namely citric acid and most bacteria can’t survive in an acidic environment. So, when you take lemon juice, it kills and eliminates bacteria from the mouth. The refreshing citrusy fragrance of lemon juice also helps get rid of garlic breath.
Studies indicate that the low pH of lemon induces acid deodorization and helps in getting rid of the smell in the mouth due to food items like garlic. To get rid of garlic breath, squeeze 2 fresh lemons in a glass of water and rinse your mouth properly. This will kill all the germs in your mouth and help you get rid of bad breath.

Zinc is one of the common ingredients in commercially marketed products for oral hygiene. This is because zinc is a great remedy for bad breath. Zinc ions inhibit oral malodor by direct binding with gaseous Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) and suppressing the growth of oral bacteria.
However, you cannot apply or use zinc directly in your mouth. Hence it is advised to get zinc through oral hygiene products. Getting a product that has a combination of zinc ions with chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride can give you better results.

Green tea is a great remedy for most of the underlying causes of halitosis. Not only does it help reduce bacterial growth in the mouth but also it helps reduce digestive and respiratory problems responsible for bad breath. Green tea also contains various bioactive compounds that help in improving overall health and thereby reducing oral malodour.
In a clinical study people with halitosis were given green tea as a mouthwash two times a day for a total period of 28 days. The plaque index and volatile sulphur compounds were measured after 30 minutes and 3 hours after rinsing. Significant reduction (36.76% and 33.18%) in the amount of volatile sulphur compound was noted in most of the individuals by the end of the study. These results proved the efficiency of green tea in treating halitosis. You can either drink green tea daily or use it as a mouthwash, twice a day to get rid of bad breath.

Peppermint mouthwash can be the safest, and quick solution for halitosis. This aromatic herb is said to have a high amount of menthol, which gives a cooling and refreshing sensation in the mouth. It also reduces bacterial growth, relieves upset stomach and opens sinuses.
A study conducted among 43 school students in Tehran for a week demonstrated the efficiency of peppermint in reducing oral malodour. In this study, students were asked to rinse their mouth with peppermint solution 3 times in a week and don't eat anything after rinsing for at least 30 minutes. All the students were re-examined after one week and it was found that halitosis was decreased by 24.4 percent in total. This action of peppermint was attributed to its anti-microbial actions helped in killing and eliminating the microbes present in the mouth that caused the malodor.

You can directly chew mint leaves after washing them properly to get rid of halitosis or soak them overnight in water to be used as a natural mouthwash. To get more benefits from this herb, you can drink peppermint tea or add mint leaves to your salads.

Oil pulling may have risen in popularity during the recent years but it is a traditional Indian folk remedy used to get rid of bad bread.  For effective oil pulling, you just need to follow these simple steps

• Take a tablespoon of oil
• Squish it all around your mouth for 15 minutes
• Don’t swallow the oil
• Spit the oil when done

Oil pulling generates antioxidants, which kill harmful microbes by rupturing their cell walls. Moreover, during oil pulling, oil gets emulsified and creates a coating all over the mouth, including teeth, gums, and tongue. This inhibits bacterial co-aggregation and plaque formation. But, this emulsification will only occur when you squish oil in the mouth for more than 5 minutes.
Olive oil can be a good choice for oil pulling. It contains phenolic compounds, squalene, phytosterols; vitamin A,  vitamin E and vitamin K, which give it antimicrobial, immuno-modulatory and antioxidative properties, making this oil an excellent remedy for most oral problems. You can also use any other oil like coconut oil. Though, it is recommended to choose an oil with antimicrobial properties so that it works better in killing microbes.

Fennel is yet another spice that possesses antimicrobial properties and helps get rid of bad breath. It soothes stomach problems and helps promote digestion. The sweet fragrance of fennel seeds is strong enough to masks garlic breath easily. That is probably why it is traditionally served after meals. You can chew fennel seeds directly to extract the juice or make a fennel mouthwash by soaking fennel seeds overnight in water. Overnight soaking will allow the juices in fennel seed to get dissolved in water. When you rinse your mouth with this water next morning after brushing, it will kill all the residual bacteria and give you a fresh breath.

Baking soda is a well-known remedy for halitosis. But is it as effective as it is portrayed? Why yes it is! Baking soda helps neutralise the acidic conditions in your mouth and suppresses bacterial growth, thereby reducing bad breath. Studies have shown that using a high concentration of baking soda converts volatile sulfur compounds responsible for bad breath, to non-odorous forms, reducing the malodor in the mouth. You just need to use some amount of baking soda dissolved in water and rinse your mouth with this solution.
It is advised not to swallow baking soda as it can have some side effects like vomiting and diarrhoea Moreover, don't use baking soda too much as it can lead to corrosion of teeth.

(Read more: How to use baking soda for teeth whitening)

Cardamom is one of the best mouth fresheners. These seeds contain a combination of 3 compounds: terpene, esters, flavonoids, and cineole. Out of which, cineole is a potent antiseptic and is known to kill bacteria that are responsible for producing bad breath and other oral infections. It also helps sooth the stomach and masks the odour of pungent foods and cigarette smoke.

So the next time you need to get rid of that onion breath quickly just peel off the upper layer of cardamom and chew its seeds. The extract from seeds of cardamom will give your mouth a fresh smell erasing the bad odour.