Most of us know now that bad breath (halitosis) can be caused by: cavities; dentures; smoking; alcohol; lung, tonsils, adenoid, sinus or throat infections; certain foods (garlic, onions, high sugar products, spicy foods, dairy products); poor oral hygiene; and so on.  We’ve also discussed many different possible cures.  Here are some natural remedies you may not have suspected:

• Bee Propolis (a resinous mixture that is collected by bees from tree buds and other sources) helps gum infections, as well as other infections.  Obviously, if one is allergic to bees, he or she should not try this method of diffusing bad breath.  Propolis has been used as an antimicrobial, emollient, immunomodulator, dental anti-plaque agent,anti-tumor growth agent, and even in food and musical instruments.
• Drink water to moisten the mouth, which increases the strength of saliva in the mouth, that cleanses the bad breath bacteria
• Use a tongue scraper to help remove bacteria
• Use an odorless form of garlic, which is a natural antiobiotic
• Zinc also has an antibacterial effect
• Add half a lemon to a glass a water, and gargle with it
• When brushing the gums and tongue, use powdered cloves, an herbal remedy for bad breath.  One can keep cloves under the molars without chewing to help maintain fresh breath.
• Avoid foods like blue cheese, salami, curry, tuna, garlic, onions, anchovies, red meat, milk, coffee, cola, etc.
• Parsley is a natural deodorizer
• Cardamom is a breath sweetener
• Cranberries help fight off the bad breath-causing bacteria
• Eating a green/raw Guava will help stop bad breath
• Fruits that are high in Vitamin C, like citrus and oranges, will help control the bad bacteria
• Eucalyptus Oil is found in many toothpastes and other oral products because it has an active antiseptic ingredient, Eucalyptol
• Sometimes chewing on sugarless gum or eating sugarless candies will help keep the mouth moist and not contribute to the growth of bad oral bacteria
• Edible camphor helps against bad breath caused by tonsilitis, sinusitis, and head colds, since it is a very effective throat stimulant.  It helps get rid of clogged mucus, making it a natural and effective nasal decongestant. 

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Redbook recently has compiled a list of bad breath remedies / treatments if you happen to have a problem with bad breath (halitosis).   Here are ten bad breath remedies mentioned in Redbook:

1. Brush and floss your teeth 2-3X daily.
2. Use a tongue scraper to clean your tongue.
3. Eat around 6 oz. of plain yogurt each day to reduce the foul odor causing bacteria (due to the active cultures/probiotics in yogurt)
4. Eat ‘detergent’ vegetables – Textured foods like carrots and apples will help clean your tongue
5. Stay hydrated, because bacteria thrive when you have dry mouth, which helps cause bad breath
6. Drink tea (especially green tea).  Tea contains polyphenols, which are compounds that inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath
7. Eat parsley- Since parsley has chlorophyll, this can help halt your halitosis
8. Use the correct mouthwash- Rinse at least 30 seconds each night (preferably using a mouthwash without alcohol)
9. Chew sugarless gum- this increases the production of saliva, thus hydrating your mouth
10. Avoid spicy and strong smelling foods that cause bad breath       

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