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. Here are 13 strange body facts you’ve always wondered about.
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. Find out the 15 health myths that make doctors cringe.
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. Beware these 41 strange symptoms that could signal serious disease.
4. Chew a few sprigs of mint or parsley
The chlorophyll in these green plants neutralises odours. Here are some other wonderful ways to use fresh mint.
5. Try gargling lavender
Lavender is an effective mouth-freshener. Put a few drops of lavender essential oil in warm water and gargle. Lavender has many great health-boosting properties. It’s one of the 10 soothing scents that can boost your immune system.
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. Tea-tree oil is also great for curing dandruff – here are some more natural dandruff remedies.
Sign up here to get Reader’s Digest’s favourite stories straight to your inbox!
