Brushing and Flossing

Make sure to take good care of your teeth and brush your teeth and tongue at least three times a day to cure bad breath. If you can not take care of your teeth, then you probably do not really want to cure your bad breath because that is the first cause of bad breath anywhere. If you want to try out some bad breath remedies make sure that you are beginning with the obvious thing and taking great care of your teeth.

Avacado - The Bad Breath Killer

Avocado is one of the bad breath remedies that few people know about. Eating Avocado can help many people to ease the usual bad breath that troubles them and everybody around them, but not eating too much avocado. It is not difficult to get rid of bad breath with avocado and it is easily found in the vegetables aisle of any market in your local residential area.

Decrease Protein Intake

Proteins are some of the culprits when it comes to regular bad breath. Eat fewer steak and chicken and lighter fruits and veggies and you should certainly see a growth in the number of individuals that are coming close to you. This is one of the most popular bad breath home remedies out there, and if you eat properly then you can make sure that you reduce your bad breath.

Drink Tons of Water Daily

If you are drinking enough water, you can easily cure your bad breath if it is not some more complex medical problem. Having a dry mouth leads to bad breath and of the more common bad breath remedies water is one of the biggest ones. You can drink water out of a glass or eat fruits and veggies, as they are filled with the water and that is a easy one of the many bad breath remedies.

A lot of halitosis conditions can actually be solved simply by making improvements on one’s dental hygiene practices. Flossing every single day, and brushing your teeth and mouth twice a day are simple hygiene practices you should do. Neglecting to do these basic procedures will lead to the buildup of microscopic food particles on your tongue, in between your teeth and along the gum line. This will be very attractive to oral bacteria which will soon be dwelling in your mouth.

As the bacteria breaks down these food particles, it eliminates a putrid smell that we all know as bad breath. Tooth decay and gum disorders are also among the most common conditions that can lead to halitosis. With improper dental hygiene, your teeth and gums will become weaker and more susceptible to infections. This is why it is essential to visit your dentist at least once a year. Your dentist will be able to see problems you cannot and therefore offer the right treatment. If you do have bad breath and the dentist does not see any irregularity in your mouth, you might have to undergo exams to identify any underlying medical illness.

The food you regularly eat can also be the cause of the beginnings of halitosis. Strong-smelling foods such as garlic and cabbage are among the most frequent culprits. It is therefore essential to drink lots of water so that your mouth as well as the inside of your digestive system will always be free of toxins and foul odors.

Medications and vitamin supplements can also affect your breath even if only temporarily. If this is an inconvenience, request your doctor to alter your medication so as not to impose side effects. As you can see, halitosis does not always come from improper oral hygiene. Solving your bad breath problem, no matter what the cause, will definitely improve your social life. You should make the effort to find the reason for your bad breath or halitosis as soon as possible, not just for your personal life but for your total well being.

Under normal conditions a mouthwash should help clear bad breath because it helps kill bacteria in the mouth and make it smell fresh. Sometimes, however, some kinds of mouthwash serve to aggravate the bad breath problem.

The reason for this is simple: some mouthwashes contain alcohol and if you are already having a bad breath problem the alcohol in the mouthwash aggravates the problem. It dries out the saliva which keeps your mouth moist and, in a dry mouth, bacteria thrive. If you need to use a mouthwash, do use an alcohol free one.

Don’t forget to drink plenty of water along with your meal and even otherwise, because water hydrates you and flushes your mouth and your system. If you are eating with other people and do not have a toothbrush with you, you can go the restroom and rinse out your mouth with water and spit it out. The water loosens the food debris which may be stuck between your teeth and any food residue in your mouth as well. If you are with family and friends and you cannot, for any given reason, go to a restroom, you can do it at the table, except don’t spit out the water, but swallow it.

Mouthwashes work to a limited extent and they will work best when used in conjunction with regular brushing and flossing schedules. You should brush your teeth at least twice daily, morning and night and in between as well if possible. When you brush, clean your teeth, gums, tongue and your whole mouth very well. You should brush for at least 20 seconds, though some dentists recommend brushing for up to two minutes for it to be effective. Apart from brushing twice daily at the very least rinse your mouth after every meal with water or a mouthwash.

Actually brushing after every meal is recommended, and flossing should be done once or twice a day. Do not forget to change your toothbrush at least once every 2-3 months to prevent bacterial build-up. Bacteria can cause bad breath and also illnesses like strep throat.

What kind of toothbrush should you use, what kind of dental floss is best for you? You should ask the dentist these questions and buy the products accordingly. Ensure that you visit your dentist regularly and do not procrastinate as it will be too late then. Do visit the dentist immediately if you experience issues like cavity or pain in your mouth. Cavities should be taken care of quickly otherwise they can lead to bigger problems.

You should also take your dentist’s advice as to which toothpaste will be good for you. Sometimes dentists recommend particular toothpastes depending on the patient’s teeth and requirements. Toothpastes with fluoride, baking soda or peroxide are usually good bets. Flosses also come in different types and your dentist can advise you which one to take. Keeping your teeth and mouth clean and healthy can be easily done wih these oral care products. There are teeth whitening treatments also available over the counter and your dentist can advise you if you need one. All these will help limit chances of infection in the mouth which can cause bad breath.

It is most important to keep your mouth clean and healthy not only to prevent bad breath but also reduce the possibility of getting gum disease or even preventing oral cancers. By going to the dentist regularly, you reduce your chances of getting cavities or even getting teeth removed. Dental work costs a lot and may also be unpleasant and hurt you. If you take care of your teeth, you may never need to wear dentures!

If you are looking for a very good bad breath home cure, green tea is a very good choice. Many people have gotten good results from drinking such unsweetened tea. But of course, always seek for professional advice before taking any kind of tea.

Don’t stay away from your friends, colleagues and/or loved ones if you notice they have bad breath. Instead, try to help them by suggesting bad breath cures they can use in getting rid of the problem. Remember that bad breath isn’t contagious so you can’t be infected with it just by helping other people who have bad breath.

Those looking for natural bad breath cures should consider taking sweet fennel. If you have no idea what this is, it’s a kind of soothing herb used to calm the stomach. People with upset stomachs due to acids and other digestive problems use sweet fennel to address the problem. And as you know, since most bad breaths come from the stomach, this helps to solve the bad breath problems.

People with liver problems, gallbladder dysfunction, diabetes and other such problems usually experience bad breath. In such cases, the best form of bad breath cure is to take temporal solutions for the bad breath but work to ensure the deeper problems are properly and permanently solved.

If you a very beautiful lady but can’t seem to keep your dates beyond the first day of meeting them, this could be because of bad breath. Talk to a close friend to tell you the truth about the smell of your mouth. If you end up discovering that you really have a bad breath, talk to your dentist immediately for some bad breath cures.

I know you love coffee. Who doesn’t? But if you drink a lot of coffee and have tried to trace the source of your bad breath to no avail, then the good old coffee just might be the culprit. That’s true because coffee also caused bad breath for a lot of people. If that’s the case with you, then it’s time to completely stop taking coffee or reduce the intake drastically.

Lots of us fear to visit the dentist when we are experiencing bad breath because we don’t want to be told the worst. If this is what’s happening to you, I want to tell you that you are making a big mistake. It’s much better to seek your dentist’s advice than dying in silence. Your dentist surely knows better than you and is in the best position to advice you on what and how to go about solving your bad breath problem. Take the time to go see him the only one you are hurting is yourself and your relationships by not taking care of the problem.

Even though it’s your doctor or dentist that will eventually help you with a chronic bad breath problem, you owe it to yourself to also ensure you know all there is to learn about the various bad breath cures out there. Getting very informed will help you not only learn a lot about bad breath cures but also help you prevent getting bad breath in the first place.

A very effective natural bad breath cure method that lots of people say works is to use lemon juice which is diluted with water to thoroughly rinse the affected mouth. But of course, if this works, it’s because the bad breath problem isn’t a chronic one. For chronic bad breath problems, the solutions are far from just rinsing the mouth with lemon juice.

If you tend to miss meals, it’s imperative to know that you could be creating the platform to manifest bad breath. Yes, it’s true. As unusual as it seems, bad breath can be produce from not eating on regular basics as you should. So, those on diets should ensure they at least take lots of water to prevent making their mouths too dry.

It shouldn’t take a soothsayer to tell you that your bad breath is a chronic one if you brush more than once a day, eat only foods that won’t make your mouth smell and engage in only habits that won’t cause you bad breath and your bad breath still persists. In this case, you have to see your dentist for a really solid bad breath remedy.

Your dentist is best to help cure your bad breath because they usually first work to find the cause of the bad breath and start treating that. This works better than using cosmetic approaches that are not long lasting. Instead, do not pay attention what anybody mention to you, please listen to your dentist.

Have you just been told you have a respiratory tract infection? If yes, this can be the reason behind your bad breath. In such a case, unless you completely treat the respiratory tract infection, your bad breath will continue. A good bad breath cure therefore is to do nothing drastic but wait until you are completely treated and healed from the respiratory tract infection.

Don’t be quick to condemn someone who has a bad breath. They obviously didn’t know about it or they don’t know what to do to get bad breath cures. Rather, make sure you expend some time to provide them with the information you know about buying the correct mouth odor. You can even advocate a serious bad breath remedy to them that really “works”.

Treatment for bad breath are many and may vary widely, depending on the cause and the preference of the person affected. There are many things that people have always accepted to be true about bad breath, but some of these, such as the following, are not really true.

1. You can find out if you have bad breath by exhaling over your cupped hand. True and false. It is possible to determine the presence of bad breath by using this technique. However, it may only work if your halitosis is so severe, or if you have a very sensitive sense of smell. The truth is that identifying your own bad breath is very hard because your nose is actually connected to your mouth. As such, many internal odors may be screened, including that of bad breath.

If you seriously think that you might have bad breath, you can confirm the situation by any of these methods. First, you can go to the dentist and ask to be checked with the halimeter, a dental instrument specifically used to diagnose halitosis. Second, you can ask a trusty friend to simply tell you. But the easiest way to check for bad breath is by scraping the innermost part of your tongue with a teaspoon or a cotton swab. After a minute, hold the spoon or swab to your nose and get a whiff. Whatever smell you get, that is exactly how others feel about your breath.

2. Bad breath comes from the intestines. True and false, but mostly false. While bad breath can come from digestive disorders, it is more commonly a result of leftover food particles stuck in the crevices of your mouth due to irregular brushing and failure to floss everyday.

3. Bad breath can be avoided by brushing and flossing regularly. True. This is a very simple yet very effective way to get rid of bad breath or avoid getting it in the first place. Ideally, you should brush your teeth after every meal, including snacks, to clear your mouth of excess food particles every time you eat, but two or three times a day is sufficient, according to most dentists. Flossing must be done daily. In addition to these common dental practices, it is also vital that you clean your tongue after brushing to prevent bacteria from accumulating, which can eventually lead to bad breath.

4. Bad breath can be eliminated by using a mouthwash. False. According to most advertisements, you will have fresh breath just by using a mouthwash. Unfortunately, these dental products only give a temporary solution to your halitosis problem. Some of them can even aggravate the problem in the long run. If you want to completely eliminate the problem of bad breath, you should practice good dental hygiene, eat foods rich in fiber and drink plenty of water everyday.

Mouthwashes can be used as a temporary breath freshener in situations where it’s not practical to brush your teeth right away. But even in these circumstances, you should avoid those that have some kind of alcohol among their ingredients. These products cause dry mouth, which then encourages the growth of oral bacteria that produces that nasty odor that we know as bad breath.

When purchasing a mouthwash, you can consider the products that contain chlorine dioxide. These will not dry up your mouth and are very effective in masking the foul odor released by certain oral bacteria, at least on a short term basis.

Among the mouth washes, ProFresh Oral Rinse, has been tested to be more effective than others in this regard. The manufacturers of this dental product actually claim that their mouthwash is unique because it is the only one that actually contains chlorine dioxide that can counter the putrid smell released by oral bacteria. According to press releases from the company, other mouthwashes that claim to have chlorine dioxide actually has only sodium chlorite which is not that effective against bad breath.

5. Eating certain foods can give you bad breath. True and false. Once more, this depends on several other factors. For instance, we all know that eating onions or garlic can leave a nasty smell in the mouth that some people might call bad breath. However, this is only a temporary odor and is not really the same as having halitosis. The same goes for sulfur-rich foods like cabbage. In these cases, you might have bad breath after your meal but it will fade quickly especially if you brush your teeth immediately after eating.

However, if your bad breath is persistent and doesn’t go away, you might want to consider reducing your intake of foods that are rich in sulfur. If you regularly eat these foods, don’t be surprised to find sulfur in your digestive system. The strong stench of this chemical will come out in your breath every time you open your mouth.

But this happens very rarely. The more common cause of bad breath is still the lack of proper oral hygiene. To decrease your chances of getting bad breath, you must always be conscious of your mouth’s cleanliness. Take the time to brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss daily, clean your tongue properly and avoid sulfur-rich foods. This way, you can avoid getting bad breath in the first place.

Bad breath (halitosis) is a common for many people and can be rather embarrassing.  Bad breath can be a big turn off for those around you and if it is a condition that you suffer from long term you may notice that people may stand back from you when talking to you.

There are many causes of bad breath with some being chronic conditions and others being short term causes. In this article we will discuss the causes of bad breath as well as the cures.

Causes of Bad Breath
One of the very common but reasonably short term causes of bad breath is eating foods that cause bad breath with the main food being garlic.  Garlic will even carry on causing bad breath for a while even after there is no trace of the garlic left in the mouth.  This is because the active ingredients are absorbed into the blood stream and are then expelled by the lungs as you breathe.

Brushing and flossing can disguise the smell a little but as long as the odour continues to be expelled as you breathe there will still be a certain amount of bad breath.  The good thing with ‘garlic breath’ is that it will fade of and your breath will return to normal usually within a few hours.

Smoking is another substance that will cause bad breath by both the taste left in the mouth as well as the expelled odour from the lungs. Smoking also affects oral hygiene and encourages gum disease which can also be a big contributing factor to bad breath.  The obvious and only way to stop bad breath caused by smoking is to give up smoking.

The most common cause of chronic bad breath is usually plaque build up which can cause small pockets to appear between the teeth and gums.  These pockets then fill up with food particles and bacteria.  Normal brushing and even flossing will not be able to clean these pockets completely and it needs to be done by a dental hygienist.

One of the main causes of bad breath is dry mouth.  Dry mouth can be caused by allergies and can also be caused by some medications such as asthma and bronchitis inhalers.  These medications can have an impact on your saliva production and actually a reduction in the amount saliva produced.  This causes your mouth to become dry and as a result there is less oxygen present which makes ideal conditions for bacteria to thrive.  The build up of bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue is what causes the bad breath.

Another cause of bad breath is post-nasal drip which can be as a result of an allergy.  Post-nasal drip is caused by excessive mucus being produced by the sinuses which is a common reaction to allergy.  This mucus is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria growth and the bacteria will feed off this condition which will result in bad breath.  This cause will usually be accompanied by a bad taste in your mouth.

The final cause of bad breath is a possible allergy to certain foods. Food intolerance can have many different symptoms and one common symptom is the production of excess gas in the stomach.  This gas can often reflux back up and settle in the mouth causing bad breath.

In some cases bad breath can be caused by a more serious underlying condition so if the usual bad breath remedies don’t get rid of the problem then you may need to visit your doctor.

Cures for Bad Breath
There are many cures and remedies for bad breath but to get the best result it is best to try and identify the cause of the bad breath.  By attacking the cause will give you the best results.

Here are some cures that you can try for bad breath:

The first thing to do is make sure you have a good oral hygiene routine.  Brush your teeth and tongue twice a day and floss once a day. Research has shown that people that floss do have better breath than people who don’t floss.  Flossing will help to remove trapped food particles and prevent them from becoming a breeding ground for bacteria.

If you have dry mouth you may be able to get an artificial saliva substitute from your dentist.  If you have an allergy that is causing your dry mouth then it would pay to try to identify your allergen and work on avoiding that allergen.

Visit a dental hygienist regularly for a professional clean.  You should have this done every six months to make sure of no plaque build up between teeth.

Minimize the food supply for bacteria. The bacteria that cause bad breath thrive on protein rich foods. Vegetarians who eat less protein foods have much less problems with bad breath.

Using mouthwashes too often can not always be that good for you as they contain chemicals, however you can use a mouthwash of baking soda dissolved in water daily without any risk.  This is a natural remedy and is very safe to use daily and can help to keep the tongue clean and free from bacteria.  Squeezed lemon into water can also be used daily as a gargle and will prevent bad breath from reoccurring.

Adding yogurt to your diet on a regular basis, preferably daily, can help to cure bad breath and prevent it reoccurring.  Yogurt contains good bacteria and has a very good overall benefit for your health.

Foods rich in zinc can also help to keep bacteria under control and prevent bad breath.

All of these remedies are very good so if you have no luck with them there could be another cause that you will need to see your doctor to get diagnosed so that you can take the necessary steps to heal yourself and heal your bad breath.

Chronic bad breath, medically known as halitosis, is a major deterrent in social situations. Sufferers of this embarrassing condition are extremely self-conscious, probably as much as the obese are aware of their weight.

Many people fear social situations and relationships because they know that their bad breath will cause people to shun them. The problem is so bad that some people give up their social life completely, because they have previously been rejected due to halitosis. Finally they just relinquish the social scene and sit at home alone and lonely.

In case you are one of the victims of halitosis, you may well know the pain of rejection if you have been refused a goodnight kiss or have been told off about your bad breath. You will be aware of the social concerns caused by this perennial problem and also feel guilty because you are yourself the cause of the affront.

If you were to know that your halitosis is treatable and preventable and you do not need to suffer from this embarrassing condition any more, you can lead a better social and work life. There are now new treatments for bad breath. Though there are many over the counter treatments available, there are some which can be got only on prescription.

There are some of non-prescription remedies that contain a blend of natural and herbal ingredients for people who prefer those. Alternatively, there are other, more conventional, treatments also available and the best person to tell you about them would be your dentist. You can ask your dentist for his or her recommendations for treatments for bad breath during the course of your next visit.

The dentist can either guide you by giving you prescription medicines or if he has heard of any other treatments in over the counter medicines. The Internet is another source of information for this treatable problem. A search for halitosis will yield thousands of hits to links on the subject, its causes and its treatments.

It is also important to follow some simple guidelines to fight halitosis and regain your self confidence. You must remember to brush your teeth after every meal as a matter of routine. Don’t forget to brush you gums and tongue as well and rinse well after that. If you are using mouthwash, then use an alcohol free one because alcohol dries out the inside of your mouth and prevents the production of protective bacteria which would otherwise protect you from bad breath.

Do remember that flossing at least once a day is extremely important. It removes the debris between your teeth which can otherwise lead to bacteria formation and cause bad breath. Similarly, brushing your tongue is equally important for the same reason. It is usually the bacteria which is the root cause of the horrible halitosis that makes people shun you.

Apart from poor oral hygiene, there are many underlying causes for bad breath. If you know what they are, it will help you deal with the situation as well as rectify the actual cause of the bad breath. Do you know that halitosis can be in indirect result of diabetes which causes gum disease? Then again, gastrointestinal problems, too, can be a contributory factor to the bad breath problem. Liver diseases, too, can cause halitosis.

It is important that you invest the time and trouble to find out the cause of the halitosis and if, in the course of that, you need to change your diet, do so. You will have to eat healthier foods and foods which are not too strong tasting, avoiding raw onions, garlicky foods, pungent fishy dishes or heavily spiced foods, unless you are home alone and certainly not on a date!

Consider this, would you feel good if you have to kiss your date who has bad breath?  I should think not.  Fresh breath is essential if you are going on a date. If you have bad breath or halitosis , you should clean your mouth out before going on that next blind date.

Maintaining the kissable freshness of breath is not always easy, especially if you are predisposed to halitosis.  Some people are actually more prone to getting bad breath than others, particularly those who don’t practice regular dental hygiene.  Failure to brush or floss consistently is the number one cause of bad breath in individuals all over the country.

Sometimes, it won’t even matter even you floss religiously or spend 5 minutes each time you brush your teeth.  If you are taking drugs for certain internal illnesses like diabetes or liver disorders, your breath will ultimately turn foul.  Smokers and habitual drinkers have this same high probability of developing bad breath.

These illnesses and unhealthy habits are not the causes of bad breath directly.  What happens is because of these habits and disorders, oral bacteria thrive in the mouth and the back of the throat.  These are the ones who produce the offensive smell that is pretty much like that of rotten eggs.

When you go out on a date, do whatever you need to have fresh breath throughout your romantic dinner.  Therefore, it is crucial that you seek treatment for your bad breath as soon as you notice it.  But what if you don’t know that you do have bad breath?  Hopefully, at least one of your friends will step up and warn you, because surely, they will notice it before you do.  You will probably agree that telling your friend that they have bad breath is not as easy as telling them that their shirt’s on backwards or that their fly’s open.

Because of this difficulty, there’s a very real possibility that no one will tell you the truth and you’ll excitedly head out to meet your date.  When your date mysteriously makes an excuse not to kiss you or worse, takes off before you even finish dinner, you’ll just be left wondering if you did or said anything wrong.  Do you know that you are likely to be left alone due to your smelly breath.

When you get home, you dejectedly replay the date in your mind, trying to figure out why your companion left, when things looked so promising at the start of the evening.  In the face of such mysterious circumstances, you should definitely consider the possibility that you might actually have bad breath.

It’s time to find out the truth once and for all.  Very simply, this is what you have to do.  Cup one of your hands, hold it in front of your mouth and exhale.  After 3 seconds, smell your hand.  Rotten eggs?  There you have it.  You weren’t a lousy date after all.  You just have bad breath.

Before you get mad at your friends for not telling you this right away, remember that it’s really not a very simple task.  If you reverse the situation and you know that your friend has bad breath, can you really just say straight out, “your breath stinks“?  Perhaps, if you’re that close.  But in most situations, letting your friend know the smelly truth will take some amount of planning and waiting for the appropriate moment.

The best way of doing it would be the direct method, which as mentioned, will only work if you have the kind of closeness and familiarity that can tolerate such candor.  Get ready to blow your relationship off if you are thinking of doing that to someone you just met.  The embarrassment and awkwardness will just be too much to handle.  To avoid upsetting your friend or making them feel uncomfortable, tell it to them privately and in as a nice manner as humanly possible.

If your type of relationship with them allows it, you can say it in a lighthearted way but let them know that you’re serious.  However, don’t give them the impression that you’re judging them for it.  You can even turn it into a private joke between the two of you eventually.  Afterwards you can even help them in seeking treatment for their bad breath.  If you find a way to let them know the truth in a nice way, it can even make for a stronger friendship.

There’s no question that having bad breath can certainly dissuade some people from nurturing a close friendship with you.  It will be harder as well to find and keep dates if you don’t remedy the situation quickly enough.  For 90% of the time, brushing and flossing regularly would do.  Others may require more intensive solutions.  At any rate, it is always good if you’re surrounded with honest and candid friends who can warn you whenever your breath starts to stink again.

Herbs are a necessity in the modern kitchen.  You may be using fresh herbs, dry herbs or crushed herbs, depending on availability and season in your cooking.  You may be astonished to learn that quite of few of the herbs can be used as a remedy for bad breath.  If you are willing to try alternative remedies, these are the herbs that can help with halitosis.

Eucalyptus
This herb was originally used by the Australian aborigines who managed to get some liquid from the herbs by chewing them.  It is common knowledge that the smell of eucalyptus oil helps when you have any ailment like asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and whooping cough.  Eucalyptus contains a volatile oil called eucalyptol.  It works in a similar way as menthol, by opening nasal passages and acting on receptors in the mucus, thus reducing the symptoms of nasal congestion.

However, this herb is best avoided internally as it can cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.  Do not use oil for children under two as even breathing it may cause respiratory spasm resulting in breathing to stop, a deadly consequence.  Then again the oil may increase bronchial spasms in asthmatics and shouldn’t be ingested by people with severe liver disease or any inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract or kidney.

Thyme
Found in the Mediterranean region and also cultivated in the United States, this sweet smelling herb is used in cooking.  The dried or semi-dried leaves and the flowering tops are also used for their medicinal properties.  It has anti-tussive (cough treating), anti-spasmodic and expectorant (thinning the mucus) actions which are of great help.  Thyme can be used along or blended with other herbs like sundew and it is often used in Europe for treating dry, spasmodic coughs and also whooping cough.  Because the herb is not toxic, it can be used safely with small children.

Though it is a herb which is fairly safe to use, do keep in mind that a heavy, spasmodic cough, specially in young children, may be a precursor to a more dangerous medical condition, and so do consult a medical practitioner to check for the same.

Myrrh
The reddish-brown resin of myrrh was used for preserving mummies in olden times.  It found its place in the treatment of infectious diseases like leprosy and syphilis in ancient times.  Herbalists and naturalist also suggest this herb as a remedy for bad breath and other dental problems.  Resin, gum and volatile oil form the three main constituents of myrrh. These contribute to its efficacy.  It is also known for its astringent properties and it has a calming effect on inflamed tissues which may be present in the mouth and throat.  It is usually safe to use.

Bloodroot
This herb was used by Native Americans in rituals and in medicines.  Its color was used as body paint.  Bloodroot was used to treat cough, sore throats, rheumatic pains and even cancer.  The main active compounds in this herb are alkaloids-primarily sanguinarine.

Some toothpastes and other oral hygiene products may contain these because they are supposed to hinder bacteria growth.  Bloodroot should be used with caution because it can cause nausea and vomiting if it is taken in large doses.

Caraway
This herb has been used medically for centuries.  Its seeds help in digestion and also aid in easing colic pain, especially in children.  It is a carminative; therefore, it is used in helping gastrointestinal discomfort.

It is generally safe for internal use when ingested.  However, oil from caraway and other herbs in the Umbelliferrae family are volatile and may cause irritation to the skin and mucous membranes.  Do not use the oil for children under two years.

Peppermint
This herb, too, is carminative. Its digestive properties are common knowledge and it widely used for indigestion and intestinal colic pains.

Peppermint tea is generally considered safe for regular consumption; however, you need to be careful with peppermint oil as it is known to result in burning and stomach upset in some people.

Sage
It has historically been used as a culinary and medicinal herb for times immemorial.  It has been used externally to treat swelling, sprains, bleeding, and ulcers by herbalists.  Tea from sage leaves has been used for treating coughs and sore throat and even used as a gargle.  Just one thing to note, extremely high amounts of sage can be a causative factor in convulsions.  So be careful.

Using herbs to cure bad breath can be very effective for some people.  So why not try them today?