Bad breath or halitosis is one of the most common oral health problems. It can arise due to numerous reasons, the most significant being poor digestion and lack of oral hygiene. However, you can easily prevent and treat bad breath with the help of dietary and lifestyle changes. Ayurveda mentions many home remedies that can help you cure bad breath.
Causes of Bad Breath or Halitosis
- Poor digestion
- Lack of oral hygiene
- Dry mouth or xerostomia
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Liver, lung, intestine and kidney diseases
- Sinusitis
- Excessive consumption of garlic and onion
- Disorders related to tongue, gums and teeth
- Accumulation of food particles in oral cavities
- Constipation
How To Reduce Bad Breath?
Ayurveda mentions many dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes and home remedies to treat bad breath.
- Dietary Recommendations (Ahara): If you suffer from bad breath, you should increase the consumption of foods rich in zinc. It will help regulate the growth of anaerobic bacteria in your mouth. You must also increase the intake of water to prevent dry mouth.
- Lifestyle Recommendations (Vihaar): To reduce bad breath, you must brush your teeth after every meal. You should also avoid smoking and follow a healthy dental regime to prevent oral health problems.
Home Remedies for Bad Breath in Ayurveda
- Salt Water Gargling:
According to Ayurveda, salt has a purifying action and helps to remove toxins and bacteria from the mouth. The mixture of salt with water also helps to neutralise the acids produced by bacteria in the throat and promotes a healthy pH level.
How To Do?
Take 250 ml of warm water and add ¼ – ½ teaspoon salt to it. Then, fill your mouth with a large sip of the solution and tilt your head slightly backwards. Make an ‘aah’ sound and let the solution bubble in your throat for 30 seconds. Do not swallow any liquid. Next, swish the solution around your mouth and teeth and then spit it in the sink. Repeat the process a few times with the remaining water and rinse your mouth with fresh water once done.
- Oil Pulling:
Also known as Gandusha and Kavala, oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic cure for bad breath. It involves swishing oils in the mouth to remove toxins and harmful bacteria that lead to bad breath. Oil pulling is also known to strengthen teeth and gums and prevent cavities in the mouth.
How To Do?
Take one tablespoon of oil and put it in your mouth. Swish it around your mouth and teeth for 3-4 minutes, and then spit it out. According to Ayurveda, the best oils for oil pulling are sesame, coconut and sunflower oils.
- Tongue Scraping:
Also known as Jiwah Prakshalan, tongue scraping is one of the best remedies for bad breath in Ayurveda. It involves using a U shaped tool or a scraper to graze the tongue and remove unwanted bacterias that cause bad breath.
How To Do?
Take a copper tongue scraper and graze your tongue with it. To do this, move the tongue scraper back to the front a couple of times. After each turn, do not forget to wash the scraper. Graze your tongue 5-7 times, and then rinse your mouth with water.
- Fennel Seeds:
One of the leading causes of bad breath is poor digestion. Chewing fennel seeds is a highly effective remedy for reducing gas and bloating in the body and promoting digestion. Fennel seeds or Saunf are also known to increase saliva production and fight germs that cause bad breath.
How To Use?
Dry roast fennel seeds for 3-5 minutes. Let them cool, and then store them in a glass container. Chew ½ teaspoon of these seeds every day for 5-10 minutes. They are best eaten after taking meals.
- Cardamom Seeds:
Cardamom is known to be an excellent mouth freshener. Chewing cardamom seeds helps kill harmful bacteria, prevent cavities and treat bad breath.
How To Use?
Take one pod of cardamom and chew it for 3-5 minutes to instantly eliminate bad breath.
- Honey with CCF Water:
Honey with spice water is one of the best Ayurvedic cures for bad breath. According to Ayurveda, all the three spices used in this remedy, viz cardamom, fennel and cumin, are highly effective in killing harmful bacteria, reducing bad breath and promoting oral health.
How To Use?
Mix equal portions of cardamom, cumin and fennel seeds. Then, boil one cup of water and add one teaspoon of spice mix to it. Let the water boil for the next 1-2 minutes, and then strain it. Next, add one teaspoon of honey and a pinch of turmeric to the water and gargle with it every day for 2-5 minutes.
The Takeaway
Bad breath or halitosis is an uncomfortable oral health problem that must be treated immediately. The above-mentioned Ayurvedic home remedies will help you cure it with simple ingredients that you can easily find in your kitchen.
