The Best Herbal Remedies For Halitosis

Halitosis, or "bad breath" as it is more commonly known, is one of the downside of having a diet that is based on eating meat and dairy products, especially since these types of foods can create a stench that is rooted from the excreta or matter that has been putrefying in the colon, causing a person to have a very unpleasant odor manifest from his alimentary canal. This can become an embarrassing condition to have, especially if you interact with people almost everyday, causing some very awkward moments. Having bad breath can be very unpleasant at times, fortunately, this type of condition can be remedied through different treatments, one of which involves the use of herbal remedies.

Unknown to a lot of people, there are actually a lot of different herbal remedies that can help fight bad breath or halitosis, some of which have been passed down from one culture to another through folklore, or even through new discoveries today. These different herbal remedies can offer people who suffer from halitosis either a natural short term breath freshener or long term treatment for the condition. Either way, it can greatly improve the quality of odor that is coming out of your mouth.

Halitosis Herbal Remedies

One of the more popular types of herbal remedies for halitosis is the chlorophyll treatment, which actually serves as a natural breath freshener. Most of coniferous green vegetables contain chlorophyll, which means that most green vegetables or plants that you can eat can actually help prevent bad breath. This means that you may have to change your diet by including a lot of green vegetables into the mix if you want to avoid having a skunk breath. Parsley is one of the best ways to help freshen your breath, and it does so in little time only. The excretion that can be taken from this plant is also considered to be more potent as compared to just eating the plant.

Another plant that basically offers the same relief from bad breath is cilantro, which can also be juiced to get a more potent dose of breath freshener. Mint, which pretty much helps freshen your breath as well, leaves a minty fresh taste in your mouth after it leaves it smelling fresh. Again, this type of herbal remedy can be eaten, but its most potent effects can be achieved when it is juiced, giving you a minty fresh breath after you have consumed it, giving you an effective relief from halitosis. Other green vegetables that help you achieve this effect include spinach, alfalfa, wheat and barley grass.

Other herbs are used to clean the colon, which can help eradicate your bad breath, especially since the bad breath can emanate from the foods, such as meat and dairy products, that you have consumed which are being digested in your colon. Herbs such as aloe vera resin, senna leaves, cascara sagrada, trifala, rhubarb, and many others can help fight bad breath by evacuating the bowels, thereby cleansing the colon.

Aromatic herbal teas such as cinnamon, peppermint, ginger and cardamom can also help prevent halitosis since they can help in the entire digestion process, making it easier to digest food in the colon instead of just letting undigested food sit and rot there.

By Vanessa A. Doctor

Olive Oil Cleanse - Top Health Benefits of Olive Oil Cleanse

When we overload our digestive system with toxins, junk food, processed foods and non-vegetarian foods, the result is a clogged colon which also affects the liver. Constipation, weight gain, gas and bloating, fatigue and skin and hair problems are all results of an unhealthy digestive system. Detoxifying the system regularly is extremely important and essential. Olive Oil cleanse is one such way to achieve this.
How do you know that your system needs cleansing? If you experience any of the following, its time you pay attention to your digestive system and look for remedies.
- Recurring headaches
- Constipation
- Protruding belly
- Powerful food cravings
- Skin problems
- Metallic taste in mouth
- Frequent fatigue and low energy
- Flatulence, gas & bloating
- Excess weight
- Impaired digestion
- Irritability, mood swings
- Bad breath & foul-smelling stools

There are many cleansing methods which include diets, cleansing drinks and clinical procedures. Olive Oil cleanse is one simple method. Its regular use benefits the users by preventing all the above mentioned ailments.
It is a natural lubricant. Take one teaspoon in the day and at night. It keeps the insides lubricated and consequently helps regularizing bowel movements. This can be done once a week as having it daily might lead to diarrhea. Flushing out the system completely involves cleansing of the liver as well. Try the following:
On the day of flushing the system do not eat anything after 4 PM. At 10:30 PM squeeze the juice of one grapefruit in a cup. Mix half cup olive oil in ¾ cup grapefruit juice. Stir well and keep aside. After half an hour drink the mixture. Sleep immediately. The next day do a sea-salt water flush and drink a fiber shake. This is an effective way of cleansing the system.
Olive oil is obtained from the fruit 'olive'. It contains oleic acid, palmitic acid and fatty acids. It has antioxidant properties and is low in saturated fats. It is known to have medicinal properties. It is popularly used by medical practitioners to cleanse the entire system including the gall bladder and liver. Its properties help in preventing Asthma, gall-stones and sluggishness.

By Rachel Myers

Using Hydrogen Peroxide to Treat Bad Breath

Bad breath, or halitosis, is a condition wherein the person suffering from it experiences bad odor from his/ her mouth. It is a common cause for embarrassment and many adults suffer from it time and again while some of them experience it on a regular basis.

Bad breath, sometimes called halitosis, may have its origin from the mouth or from other organ systems such as the lungs or the stomach and in some cases from the throat areas. It can also be caused due to some illnesses such as common cold, tonsillitis, or throat infections. Smells that originate from the mouth are due to the accumulation of anaerobic bacteria as a result of drying of the mouth (xerostomia), the intake of certain drugs that may induce xerostomia, tooth and gum problems and occasionally due to poor oral hygiene.

The accumulated bacteria flourishes in a state of lack of oxygen and act on food debris gathered at that site and release volatile sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (that smells like rotten eggs), methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide ( that smell like rotten vegetables) and cause foul odor from the mouth.

To treat halitosis arising out of the mouth, the conditions that are causing the accumulation of the bacteria should be treated. If the condition is attributed to conditions such as xerostomia, flow of saliva is improved by the use of lozenges and in extreme cases by the use of a salivary substitute.

If the bacterial accumulation is due to teeth or gum problems, the correction of the underlying cause reduces the occurrence of bad breath. The dentist treats the decay with corrections such as fillings or crowns that prevent further accumulation of food and bacteria at that site. Likewise, the correction of gum problems by proper treatment methods will help reduce the condition and thus reduce halitosis. The dentist may also undertake the irrigation of the gum areas with antiseptics such as hydrogen peroxide to reduce bacterial accumulation and thus treat the problem.

On the other hand, if this is caused due to poor oral hygiene, better hygiene methods should be followed to reduce it. Proper tooth brushing, flossing, cleaning the tongue and rinsing the mouth with some mouthwash are some of the hygiene methods to be followed to reduce bacterial and food accumulation. In some cases, an extreme cleaning will do the trick.

Care has to be taken in changing the brush frequently and to store it properly in order to prevent bacterial buildup on it. Some people have the habit of storing the brush in substances such as hydrogen peroxide to help in preventing the accumulation of bacteria that causes it. This is also used as a mouthwash to help reduce the bacteria responsible for bad breath Hydrogen peroxide acts by releasing oxygen and killing the bacteria and thus reducing the problems you will face.

This is used in a diluted form and gargled in the mouth for around 45 seconds. This use of hydrogen peroxide acts as a temporary measure. It is very important to remember that the continuous use of hydrogen peroxide as a measure to reduce bad breath may be harmful for the teeth. So it should be used with regular breaks in between to avoid causing undue harm.

This, when used to kill bad breath leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth that can be reduced by the use of some other commercially available mouthwash.

By Richard Wilkins

Get Rid of Bad Breath Naturally

What can be more embarrassing than seeing the person you are talking to wriggle their noses because they smell your breath? Bad breath, or medically termed as halitosis, is caused by odor-producing bacteria in a person's mouth. When people do not clean or brush their teeth properly after their meals, left over food can get stuck between their teeth. Bacteria can enter the mouth and can develop on the left over food and can even thrive between teeth. When this happens, the bacteria releases sulfur compounds and this is what causes the bread to smell bad.
There are different causes of bad breath. It may be because of some foods and drinks like orange juice, garlic, cheese, or onion. It may also be the outcome of smoking and eating tobacco. Other factors responsible for halitosis are gum diseases, tooth decay, leftover food between teeth, throat infections, worms in the intestines, or even constipation and stomach disorders like gastritis.
Luckily, there are available treatments which can cure bad breath. If one is too embarrassed to go visit the doctor or just find it too bothersome, then they should try using natural cures for bad breath. The following are good remedies that have been known to cure halitosis.
1. Mint leaves, when chewed, instantly freshens one's breath.
2. After meals, brushing can prevent the accumulation of food between teeth.
3. Drinking unsweetened tea helps in curing halitosis.
4. Baking soda, when dissolved in warm water cleans the tongue as you gargle.
5. Some people chew sunflower seeds and drink water afterwards after meals.
6. Eat yogurt for six weeks. This is proven to remove bad breath completely.
7. Another natural remedy is tea which is made from Fenugreek or methi seeds.
8. Gargling a glass of water squeezed with lemon frequently is a good remedy for halitosis.
9. Apples, when eaten daily, are believed to eliminate the bacteria which causes halitosis.
10. Pineapple juice also acts as a remedy and can instantly remove the foul odor in one's mouth.
11. Cardamom seeds are known as breath fresheners because they sweeten the breath because of its aromatic flavor.
12. Parsley can also reduce halitosis.
13. Mouthwash is a good remedy. However, avoid those with ingredients like alcohol and dyes.
14. Hydrogen peroxide can be gargled and is considered a good remedy.
15. Apple cider vinegar is also a considered to aid in a person's digestion and can be a cure for bad breath brought about by stomach problems.
16. Five grams daily of activated charcoal is effective in cleansing the intestines and stomach as it absorbs toxins.
17. Toothpastes containing the active ingredient tea tree oil are considered a powerful antiseptic.
 There are still a lot of food and natural remedies which are believed to cure bad breath. However, it is not advisable to try everything out. If possible, always heed the advice of a doctor to know which natural remedy is most reliable.
By Timothy I Ng