Bad breath or Halitosis is usually caused by poor dental hygiene. There may be other factors responsible for bad breath; such as tooth decay, respiratory tract infection, smoking, constipation, fever, gum disease, heavy metal buildup, indigestion, post nasal drip, unfriendly colonic bacteria or stress. Fasting, alcohol abuse and even dieting can cause halitosis.

You can eat a raw apple which cleanses teeth and prevents bad breath many times. But the root cause for bad breath needs to be treated to prevent or cure it effectively.

Here are natural remedies for bad breath which can drive bad mouth odor away

1) Take 1 tablespoon of rice bran OR oat bran OR psyllium husks mixed in water or fruit juice on an empty stomach. Try to consume 2 times a day on empty stomach as far as possible. The fiber present in these helps to remove toxins from colon that can be responsible for bad breath.

2) Garlic capsules contact natural antibiotic activities which destroy foreign bacteria in the mouth and colon. Odorless form is available for use.

3) Herbs to treat bad breath

a) Alfalfa cleanses the blood and colon due to active chlorophyll present in it. Try using 1 tablespoon of alfalfa liquid in juice or water 3 times a day.

b) Chew on a sprig of parsley after meals. Parsley contains chlorophyll which is the active constituent present in breath mints. Parsley is a natural mouth freshener and an excellent treatment for bad breath.

c) In case you have infection due to gum disease, dab a cotton swab with alcohol free goldenseal extract over infected gums or mouth sores.

d) Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with myrrh, peppermint, rosemary and sage.

e) Other herbs helpful for bad breath are cloves, fennel and anise.

Other Suggestions on Bad Breath 

4) Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth hydrated. Many times “morning breath” occurs when you are dehydrated and saliva reduces. This saliva is needed to wash away bacteria in the mouth. So drink water in abundance.

5) Avoid foods that get stuck between teeth easily such as sticky sweets, stringy vegetables. Use wooden toothpicks after every meal to prevent gum disease.

6) Mouthwashes are not too helpful; although they kill bacteria which cause bad breath, they can return back with full force. Mouthwashes can irritate gums, tongue and mucous membranes in your mouth.

Realise that bad breath may be the sign of an underlying health problem. So, please consult your dentist for a thorough checkup if the above natural cures do your improve your condition soon.