Oral Detox: Natural Remedies for Fresher Breath

Is there a person who doesn’t like when their teeth are healthy, and their breath is fresh? We would be willing to bet that there isn’t!

Oral health and fresh breath are intimately connected, and people go out of their way to ensure that everything concerning their mouth is under control. And while some are willing to spend a fortune on different kinds of toothpaste and mouthwashes, there are others who have tried alternative methods. We’ve prepared a list of natural remedies to help you keep your breath fresh and teeth healthy.

Green tea
Green tea is known all over the world for its many health-promoting qualities, and it’s not a secret that green tea can boost our metabolism and give us more energy. On the other hand, it’s also rich in antioxidants, and its mineralization-boosting qualities are widely praised. What is more, there is research that shows that an element found in green tea called catechin has antimicrobial properties. This means that after drinking green tea there will be fewer microbes in your mouth and your breath will be fresh for a long time.

Being meticulous
We can’t stress this enough, but good oral hygiene is extremely important not only for your teeth and your breath but your overall health as well. Brushing your teeth twice a day is a must, but you shouldn’t stop there: interdental cleaning with floss, using a tongue scraper, and brushing your tongue will help you tremendously to keep your breath fresh. The bacteria that can be found on the topside of your tongue is one of the main culprits of bad breath, which is why scraping and brushing your tongue regularly will help. In case you have a white coating on your tongue, feel free to use a scraper to get rid of it.

Essential oils
While nothing will ever be able to replace the good old toothpaste and mouthwash, you should know that there are ways to even improve their effects on your teeth and breath. Mouthwashes, in particular, are advertised as the ‘ultimate bacteria killers,’ but unfortunately, they also kill many of the good bacteria too. This is why choosing some natural products that have antimicrobial properties might be more effective in the long run. Put three drops of peppermint, spearmint, or eucalyptus essential oil with a bit of water, gargle and swish the mixture around your mouth for half a minute.

Aloe vera
Much like green tea and essential oils, aloe vera is a plant extract that’s natural, and that has powerful antifungal and antibacterial properties. It has also been proven that it’s as effective as mouthwash at reducing plaque. In addition to these fantastic properties, aloe vera also boosts the creation of collagen, thus helping your mouth heal faster too. If you want to fight bad breath with aloe vera, you can make your own mouthwash quite easily: just boil some water and after it’s cooled, add aloe vera gel and a bit of peppermint oil for a better taste.

Hydration
This one might seem simple, but it will do wonders for your breath, overall health, as well as for your skin. When you’re dehydrated, your mouth becomes dry, and bacteria grow much faster in such surrounding. On the other hand, when you drink plenty of water, you help maintain a healthy saliva flow thus keeping your mouth moist and discouraging bacterial growth. In addition to drinking more water, you could also try cutting down on diuretics such as coffee, black tea, as well as alcohol. While these are all fluids, they are diuretics and increase fluid loss from your body. This means that your mouth will feel dry after drinking these beverages and bacteria will once again grow rapidly until you drink more water and brush your teeth.

Let’s face it – our mouth is filled with different bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, and it shouldn’t surprise us that we struggle to keep our breath fresh. Even though some of the bacteria in our mouth is good and even beneficial, it’s always a good idea to brush your teeth regularly. Not only will it keep your teeth and gums healthy, but your breath will be fresh too.