Say goodbye to bad breath
If you suffer from bad breath, there are simple things you can do in addition to regularly brushing and flossing your teeth. Don’t forget to brush the top of your tongue with your toothbrush, too, to get rid of food particles and bacteria.
1. Drink plenty of water
Coffee, beer, wine and whisky leave residues that infiltrate the digestive system, so that for some time afterwards each breath expels traces of them.
2. Cloves, fennel and anise seeds
These are effective breath fresheners. Mix together a small amount of each and carry a small bag of them so you can chew some after meals – if you don’t mind the rather strong taste.
3. Avoid highly spiced foods
Foods such as garlic, onions, chillies, salami, strong cheeses and smoked foods recirculate through essential oils left in your mouth.
4. Chew a few sprigs of Mint or parsley
The chlorophyll in these green plants neutralises odours.
5. Try gargling lavender
Lavender is an effective mouth-freshener. Put a few drops of lavender essential oil in warm water and gargle.
6. Try a sea salt rinse
Rinse your mouth with a teaspoon of salt dissolved in warm water after flossing. Salt’s mild antiseptic properties help to get rid of bacteria that cause bad breath.
7. Brush with tea-tree oil
Use a toothpaste that contains tea-tree oil, a natural disinfectant. If you can’t find it in the pharmacy, look for it in health-food shops.
This article first appeared in Reader’s Digest. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, Here’s our subscription offer.