Bad Breath Cure

For as long as we’ve been aware that physical problems can often be solved, people have been looking for a bad breath cure. Virtually no one goes through life without experiencing, from time to time, an unpleasant taste in the mouth or an objectionable odor on the breath. We turn to chewing gum, breath mints, mouthwashes, toothpaste, dental floss and sometimes even medical professionals who hopefully know more about the problem than we do.

The first line of defense was the home remedy for bad breath. One could chew mint leaves or fresh parsley. Other herbs that have been recommended include cardamom, eucalyptus and cilantro. Unfortunately, these herbal remedies only mask the odor temporarily and can’t prevent it from recurring. In an effort to get at the root of the problem, enterprising sufferers have come up with chemical home remedies like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide, and fresh lemon juice. All of these methods have some supporters, but again, they don’t provide a permanent bad breath cure.

History tells us that the source of the odor was discovered in 1964, by Dr. J. Tonzetich. Understanding that what we smell is actually chemical sulfur compounds produced by bacteria living in the mouth provides the information we need to find a bad breath cure. It has still been a long time coming, possibly because even the medical community has tended to consider bad breath as a personal rather than a medical problem, more appropriately tackled with a home remedy for bad breath.

Fortunately, the attitude is changing and professionals are devoting research to identifying and eliminating the bacteria that cause the problem. Commercial products that target these bacteria and decrease the numbers living in the mouth promise to be the closest thing to a bad breath cure that we have ever seen. While many of these contain antibacterial agents, some use a more natural approach that is probably preferable for overall health. When considering the purchase of a breath product, read the product literature to determine what approach it uses to reduce oral bacteria.

Ironically, in a modern return of the home remedy for bad breath, we are now realizing that good nutrition plays a vital role in many aspects of health – a healthy body with a healthy mouth will likely never require a bad breath cure. A well balanced diet including a multivitamin and mineral supplement, combined with a healthy active lifestyle may be all you need to rid yourself of bad breath forever. A radical change in lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight however – in the meantime, make use of the excellent commercial products available to keep breath odor under control.