Herbs for Bad Breath

Reader Contribution by Sarah Norden
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I am a big coffee drinker. I need the caffeine to keep me going while I’m at work and when I’m pulling all-nighters for papers and tests. As a result, I admit, I can get bad breath. Sure, I could brush my teeth 10 times a day, but who has time for that? Luckily, Health 911 and MotherNature have some herbal remedies to assist me with solving the issue.

Parsley is particularly high in chlorophyll, so there’s no doubt that it’s a great mouth-freshener. Parsley is often used as a garnish on platters when you’re out to eat, so take advantage of this free breath mint. Effective mostly against garlic and onion, munching on this herb after your meal will give you instant fresh breath. If swallowed, it will digest and can keep your mouth fresh for hours. Personally, this is my favorite post-meal freshener.

Photo by Sarah Norden

Like parsley, dill is also high in cholorphyll and has antibacterial, digestive and diuretic properties, making it a boon to any meal. Simply chew on some dill seeds or make a cup of tea with 1 to 2 teaspoons of leaves for each cup of boiling water.

Chewing on some sage helps to neutralize mouth odors because of its essential and antibacterial oils. You can also gargle sage tea to freshen up or to help heal mouth sores.

Anise is known to eliminate the bacteria in your mouth that causes bad breath. Chewing on some anise seeds will get rid of the bad smell and it tastes like licorice. You can even boil it into a tea and drink it or use it as a mouthwash.

Photo by Whirling Phoenix/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelloggphotography/

The oil from cloves is a strong antiseptic. Boil it into a tea or let it steep in some vodka to create a potent and effective mouthwash. Chew on a bit of clove to get a quick breath freshener as well.

So if you think you’re too afraid for the up-close-and-personal moments, just give one of these homemade herbal remedies a shot and let those concerns fade. Leave me a comment and let me know how you solve your daily bad breath!

  • Published on Jul 10, 2009
Tagged with: Reader Contributions
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