The average Brit spends almost £200 (USD$252) a year on oral care products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. And in 2019, the US oral health industry exceeded USD$8 billion. With such figures, there is very little doubt that we care deeply about our dental health and the smell of our breath.
Even so, many of us don’t realize that there are many easy and natural ways that we can fight bad breath. Try some of these simple steps to keep your breath smelling as sweetly as roses.
Drink Plenty of Water
An overly dry mouth can cause mouth odor. Luckily, this problem is easy to fix: simply drink plenty of water. An average adult should be drinking around half a gallon of water a day. Sipping water throughout the day should help to not only prevent dehydration but also keep your breath smelling fresh.
If you are not into drinking water, try eating vegetables that contain a lot of liquid such as tomatoes, cucumber or watermelon. In addition to drinking enough water, you can also chew sugarless gum to increase your production of saliva or use a humidifier at night to increase the moisture content in your room.
Make Your Own Mouthwash
Just like a branded mouthwash, apple cider vinegar mixed with water can eliminate bad breath. This is because apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which has been credited with impeding the growth of bacteria. For best results, use two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to one cup of water, and swish the mixture around your mouth for around 30 seconds.
You can also minimize bad breath by gargling a concoction made from two tablespoons of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and a cup of water. Baking soda reduces bad breath by neutralizing the mouth acidity caused by bacteria. In addition, baking soda is also a mild abrasive, which means whiter teeth.
Eat Fruit and Vegetables
Snacking on veggies and fruit, such as celery or apples, is a great way of refreshing your breath. Just like a toothbrush, crunchy fruit and vegetables can cleanse your teeth from bacteria. In addition, just like chewing gum, they stimulate saliva production to moisten your mouth.
According to Dannie Hansen, the mastermind behind www.sundt.uk, vegetables that contain zinc can also alleviate bad breath. “Foods such as pumpkin and squash seeds are great for fighting mouth odor. This is because they contain zinc, which prevents the buildup of volatile sulfur compounds that causes bad breath. As such, eating zinc-rich foods or simply increasing your zinc supplement intake can do wonders for your breath.”
Herbs and Spices
Both herbs and spices usually have a pleasant scent. They also have aromatic properties that can help to alleviate bad breath. For example, fennel can make your breath smell like licorice and reduce bacteria that can lead to halitosis.
Sucking on cloves can also help to minimize bad breath. Some of the best herbs for fighting bad breath include peppermint, thyme, basil and parsley. In addition, all spices trigger saliva production and moisten the mouth.