Bad breath, or halitosis, can be an embarrassing morning problem until you make your way to a toothbrush and mouth wash. Depending on your dental hygiene, digestive health, and concentration of toxins in your body, you may be walking around all day offending people with an unpleasant odor. Eating a healthy diet and staying hydrated with at least eight glasses of water a day is essential to correcting this condition, but there are also easy-to-use natural remedies for bad breath.
Chlorophyll
Try increasing your intake of chlorophyll. Why? Chlorophyll is very useful for correcting impurities in the bloodstream. It also helps to purify the colon from settled bacteria and toxins. While your halitosis could have been caused by the steak sandwich you ate last night and the raw onion that is stuck between your teeth, it is just as likely that a poor diet and less-than-optimal digestive functioning have led to a build-up of toxins and bacteria in the blood and colon, causing chronic bad breath.
To add chlorophyll to your diet you can take alfalfa supplements in tablet or liquid form. You can also chew on a parsley sprig after eating. This will have the double effect of cleansing the internal problem while also freshening the mouth. Eating plenty of green leafy vegetables and sea greens is another great way to purify with chlorophyll.
Garlic May Freshen Your Breath
Yes, garlic is a wonderful natural remedy for halitosis that is caused by bacteria and toxins somewhere in the body. If you eat raw garlic you will most certainly have garlic breath for a day or two, but taking an odorless garlic supplement every day will do the trick without a temporary pungent smelling mouth. Garlic is a natural antibiotic. It is a very powerful tool for destroying foreign bacteria in the colon and mouth.
Eat Fiber-Rich Foods
If you brush and floss regularly, but still have bad breath then you probably have a colon that is clogged with waste. Focus on adding fiber to your diet. Go for the oat bran, brown rice, and barley. Choose whole wheat over white every time. Eat at least five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. A high fiber diet will help eliminate waste from the colon, thereby getting rid of the bacteria that may be causing bad breath.
Herbal Rinses
Herbs can also be used to remedy halitosis. Make an herbal mouth wash with any of the following herbs:
Peppermint Rosemary Sage Cloves Fennel Anise Myrrh
Steep two teaspoons of the dried herbs or seeds in one cup of boiled water for ten minutes. Allow the infusion to cool to room temperature. Use as a mouth wash after meals. These herbs are rich in volatile oils which will cleanse the mouth and gums of bacteria. This treatment method is ideal when bad breath is caused by poor dental hygiene or gum disease.
All of these natural remedies for bad breath are safe for general use. While conventional mouth wash may be a temporary solution, to truly treat halitosis you will have to cleanse your body of excessive impurities.
References
Balch, Phyllis A. ” Prescription for Nutritional Healing.” Fourth Edition (Penguin Books, 2006).
Hoffmann, David. “The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies.” (Element Books, 1996).