Bad breath can be an embarrassing problem with far reaching consequences for your social life. If you suffer from bad breath you may feel anxious about getting up close and personal with loved ones or afraid to apply for jobs, go to school or make friends in case they discover you have foul smelling breath.

In extreme cases of bad breath though, those closest to you already know you have a problem. They can smell it. They might hint about your problem by offering you gum or recoiling when you get too close. This can add to your embarrassment and desire for distance.

The good news is however that regardless of how long you’ve suffered from bad breath there are some effective natural ways to treat it. A combination of natural remedies may work best.

Meanwhile if you have persistent bad breath, you should always seek the advice of your Doctor to rule out any underlying health cause. Health problems that cause bad breath can include stomach conditions such as ulcers and chronic gastritis etc.

A trip to the dentist to rule out gum disease is also advisable.

How to check for bad breath

If you want to check to see if you have bad breath, lick your wrist once with the tip of your tongue and smell it after 5 seconds. If it smells bad, or of rotten eggs this is an indication of bad breath. Breathing into cupped hands is not a reliable way of checking for bad breath as we often become accustomed to our own smells.

What causes smelly breath?

The main cause of foul smelling breath (Halitosis) is a bacteria called H Pylori. It is the Sulfur compounds released by this bacteria that result in that rotten egg smell. This bacteria is more likely to occur when the conditions of the mouth or stomach encourage its growth.

These conditions might include trapped food or a dry mouth. Saliva helps remove trapped food and prevent the growth of bacteria which is why when our mouths are dry, the bacteria grows more rapidly and bad breath results.

Consuming Alcohol, cigarettes and certain foods can also cause bad breath as can a variety of health conditions which is why a visit to your GP is advisable if bad breath is a recurring problem despite good mouth hygiene.

What are the remedies for bad breath?

Chewing gum increases our saliva production and as such can prevent the mouth becoming dry. Hence some people with bad breath chew sugar free gum.

Good dental hygiene is a must, with regular brushing and flossing at least twice daily for two minutes at a time.

Using a tongue scraper daily after brushing to scrape bacteria from the back of the tongue is also thought to reduce bacteria quite significantly.

Certain toothpastes that contain a natural substance called Propolis, claim to prevent gum disease, bad breath and tooth decay. Propolis is a sticky goo that bee’s collect from the sap of certain trees and plants to seal gaps in their hive. It is thought that they do this as Propolis has antibacterial properties and as such can prevent infections.

Natural bad breath remedies

A common gum specifically recommended for bad breath is cinnamon flavoured sugar free gum. Cinnamon is known to have antimicrobial properties and is effective in preventing mouth infections and fighting bacteria.

Another natural remedy mentioned often in relation to bad breath is Manuka Active Honey. Some bad breath sufferers report good results from eating a couple of tea spoonfuls of this honey daily.

Others suggest gargling with 1 teaspoon of Manuka honey mixed with warm water and 1/8 teaspoon of Cinnamon Powder for the best results.

Probiotic Yoghurt that contains live bacterial cultures is reported to reduce bad breath when eaten daily though not in all cases.

Whatever your bad breath cause, don’t despair.

With good dental hygiene and eating the right foods to aid digestion while avoiding foods that cause bad breath, you can prevent the problem spiralling out of control. If after doing these things your bad breath remains a problem, do seek the help of your Doctor.