Garlic and onions are not always the cause of bad breath or halitosis. Also rotting between the teeth, stomach problems and suppurated tonsils are among the triggers. Since the annoying smell is not a recent problem, there are numerous home remedies with which the evil can be remedied at least temporarily.
What helps against bad breath?
For bad breath, there are various home remedies that can help. Chewing parsley or peppermint is one of them. The most important remedy against bad breath is appropriate dental care. If the teeth are not brushed or brushed irregularly, food residues remain on the tongue and between the teeth and form an ideal food source for putrefactive bacteria. Dental floss and interdental brushes help to carefully clean the spaces between the teeth as well. The coating on the tongue is best removed with a tongue scraper. Mouth rinses with the active ingredient chlorhexidine, which should, however, only be used temporarily, also inhibit the formation of bacteria and offer protection against inflammation in the mouth area. As a natural alternative, rinses with sage or chamomile tea are recommended. A home remedy for bad breath that is almost always available is water. Bad breath is further aggravated by a dry mouth. If saliva production decreases significantly, food residues are no longer rinsed away sufficiently. As a result, the bacteria in the mouth receive an excess of “food”, which they produce foul gases when they decompose. Therefore, even an adequate intake of fluids can help prevent bad breath. Natural yogurts without added sugar offer effective help against bad breath. The lactic acid bacteria contained in them reduce the hydrogen sulfide content in the mouth, which is responsible for the foul odor. During a study, it was found that subjects who ate natural yogurt daily had noticeably less hydrogen sulfide and plaque in their mouths after just a few weeks.
Quick help
For a “garlic plume,” herbs do a good job. Intensive ten-minute chewing on fresh parsley, peppermint or on sage quickly makes the breath smell pleasant again. It is not yet known exactly what this positive effect results from. However, it is assumed that the odorous substances are bound by the chlorophyll. Ginger, cardamom, juniper berries, fennel seeds or coffee beans also help against intense garlic breath. Dried seeds of dill, anise or caraway are equally helpful. According to a study by Ohio State University, milk can neutralize half of the sulfur compounds present in breath. However, in the case of excessive consumption of garlic, the characteristic odor also evaporates through the skin and is also excreted from the lungs through the air we breathe. Therefore, it can neither be completely displaced with herbs nor with milk, but only softened. Menthol pastilles and chewing gum stimulate saliva production and thus prevent the accumulation of food residues and the consequent settlement of bacteria.
Alternative remedies
Among the most effective home remedies are mouthwashes with sea salt and gargling with salt water. For this purpose, different concentrations can be found in the literature. However, the most recommended is the isotonic solution containing 0.9 percent sea salt. Rock salt is an alternative. Table salt is not recommended because of the chemical additives it often contains. Iodized salt is also less suitable, as there is a risk of absorbing too much iodine. If you don’t mind the unpleasant taste, you can gargle with tea tree oil. This was already used by the Australian aborigines to treat inflammations in the mouth, infections and colds. The antimicrobial effect has already been thoroughly researched and proven. Another way to fight bad breath is “oil pulling”. For this purpose, vegetable oils are used which are moved back and forth in the oral cavity for a few minutes and are repeatedly pulled through between the interdental spaces. The oil is then spat out and the mouth rinsed with water. Gargling tea also helps against bad breath. The ingredients of black tea inhibit bacterial growth and thus hydrogen sulfide production. Elderberry tea has a calming and antiseptic effect. Chamomile tea as one of the best known home remedies also shows a corresponding effect.If the bad breath comes from the stomach, it is also recommended to take a course of propolis, a resinous mass produced by bees with antiviral, antibiotic and antifungal properties.
