Maintain oral hygiene

Dentists spoken to admit that in a majority of cases, the cause of bad breath is a dirty mouth. They assert that brushing your teeth twice and flossing daily will remedy and prevent offensive breath caused due to food and bacteria trapped between teeth and at the gum line. Professionals also urge you to clean your tongue everyday and guard against dry mouth to keep halitosis away.

Use traditional Indian herbs to clean your teeth

Cleaning the teeth with herbs is an ancient Indian practice that not only helps to maintain healthy teeth and gums but also keeps bad breath away. Here are some traditional recipes for tooth powder/paste:

Tulsi (Holy Basil) toothpaste

The following home made tulsi toothpaste is claimed to be highly effective in combating bad breath and beneficial for oral health.

To make the toothpaste, simply powder some sun dried tulsi leaves and mix with a little mustard oil.

Pepper (Kali Mirchi) powder

Cleaning your teeth regularly with a mixture of pepper and common salt is said to prevent bad breath, cavities, bleeding gums and heals enhanced sensitivity.

Indian medicinal herbal mouthwash

Some herbalists prescribe the following herbal mouthwash to maintain dental hygiene and fresh breath:

½ tsp. babool bark powder, ½ tsp. jyeshthamadh powder, 1 tsp triphala powder, ½ tsp. dalimb powder, ½ tsp kala namak and two drops badishep oil.

Add all the powder to a glass of water in a vessel and bring to boil. Filter and cool. Add the oil and store in a bottle near the washbasin. Use this water to gargle and rinse the mouth after each meal and before going to bed.

Short-term remedies

Edibles like garlic, onion and alcohol or temporary upset tummy gives your breath a foul smell, which is transitory and can be taken care of with short-term home cures.

Mouth freshners

Chewing aniseeds, parsley, mint, cardamom, cloves, juniper barriers, an apple or fennel seeds will help disguise the odours of a recent meal.

Peppermint Oil

If the cause of your bad breath is a minor temporary digestive problem, then a few drops of essential oil of peppermint in a glass of warm water will ease your discomfort.

Honey and lime

If a sore throat is the reason behind bad breath, then add a few drops of honey and lemon or clove oil to some hot water and use it to gargle and later swallow some of it.

Long-term remedies

• Persistent bad breath needs professional diagnosis. It could be caused by smoking, catarrh, sinus infection, tooth decay, tonsillitis, constipation, worms, stomach disorders, diabetes, lung infection etc. and requires long term treatment under professional guidance. Here are a few safe long-term home remedies for halitosis:
• Avoid drinking water with meals as it upsets the gastric juices.
• Stimulate a good supply of oxygen to your system by exercising, taking in fresh air and deep breathing.
• Have one-teaspoon fig syrup in hot water every night till a cure is achieved.
• Incorporate fresh vegetables such as carrots and celery in your diet.  These effectively help keep plaque away.
• Since stress too can cause halitosis, work upon lifestyle changes to bring about a permanent cure.
• Consuming fenugreek tea everyday, helps clear toxins in your system that may be giving rise to bad breath.
• Nature therapists suggest include avocado in your daily diet for a long-term natural solution.
• Give up addictions to alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco and paan.