Parsley for Bad Breath

A number of herbs have been used to treat bad breath, but parsley for bad breath is probably the most common herbal home remedy of all. Petroselinum crispum, a plant native to southern Europe and Asia, is cultivated all over the world: it has made it's way into virtually every cuisine. For some, the flavor, distinct and yet complementary to so many others, is it's main virtue. For others, the clean fresh smell it gives to the breath, and particularly its ability to mask garlic and onions on the breath, is its best feature. Almost incidentally, parsley is very nutritious - high in antioxidant vitamins A and C, and iron, and providing significant amounts of a number of other vitamins and minerals. If you don't already love this herb, try to acquire a taste.

A traditional parsley remedy for bad breath will use the herb in one of two ways. The simplest is just to grab a sprig of fresh parsley and chew it thoroughly. Particularly effective after a meal containing garlic or onions, this will also work as well as any breath mint as a quick fix for more chronic bad breath. The other use of parsley for bad breath involves simmering a handful of fresh leaves in a couple of cups of water with several whole cloves or some ground cloves. The solution can be used as a mouth wash as often as required. Be sure to use fresh parsley for both of these remedies: dried parsley has neither the admirable breath freshening ability nor the exceptional nutritional value of the fresh herb.

A weakness of any parsley remedy for bad breath is that, like many of the breath freshening products on the market today, it has little value for long term treatment of a chronic bad breath problem. Though it does have some antiseptic qualities, and contains lots of chlorophyll, another natural remedy for bad breath, it doesn't seem to do much more than temporarily mask the odor characteristic of chronic halitosis. To tackle chronic halitosis, you will need to use a product that has more ability to kill or displace the odor producing bacteria that live in the mouth. Natural alternatives to parsley for bad breath that are designed to provide a more lasting effect are available.

Regardless of how severe your breath odor is, using parsley for bad breath is not going to do any harm, in fact it's nutritional value alone is a good reason to use more of it. Add a fresh sprig to your dinner plate or decorate your sandwich with a cluster of leaves. Throw some into salads to get a fresh sharp taste reminiscent of celery. Some people carry a handful around in a plastic bag in a pocket so that they'll have a parsley remedy for bad breath whenever they need it. Though not the most powerful breath remedy around, parsley is a healthy choice, and surprisingly effective in the short term.

Herbal Remedies for Halitosis

Herbal remedies for halitosis (bad breath) have obviously been around longer than any others. Before we had pharmacies, factories, and laboratories, people experienced bad breath and they used whatever means they had available to try to remedy it. Even today, indigenous groups have an extensive knowledge of the plants that grow around them, and the uses that can be made of many of these plants. For the aromatic herbs and pungent spices, one benefit is obvious to everyone - a strong and pleasant-smelling plant odor is preferable to the foul odor of bad breath - chewing cinnamon or mint leaves masks the odor. There's often more to it than that, however.

It turns out that many of the traditional herbs for bad breath not only smell nice, but also have antiseptic and antibacterial properties that can actually help fight off the bacteria that cause bad breath. Thyme, mint, cardamom, cloves, and bergamot are all known to have antiseptic properties and many other edible herbs do as well. Even some plants that are not normally eaten, such as eucalyptus, can be used in a mouthwash to create herbal remedies for halitosis. Many people use these plants as a quick fix: chew on a couple of mint leaves, a clove, or a pod of cardamom to instantly freshen your breath. After eating garlic, try chewing a sprig of fresh parsley.

Despite their great reputation, however, herbal remedies for halitosis will not provide a permanent solution to a case of serious and chronic bad breath. Their fresh odor and mild antiseptic effects are transitory and insufficient to clear up all of the problem bacteria in the mouth. The odor is sure to return, and soon. This is not to disparage the use of herbs for bad breath - they are effective and safe for short term emergencies, and after eating, drinking, or smoking, when the need for a breath freshener is also transitory. They just don't pack the punch that's needed for a bad case of chronic bad breath. For this, you need a different kind of approach.

First, consult your doctor and/or dentist and find out whether you have any oral, dental, or health problems that could explain your bad breath. If these checkups find any problems, you will need to take care of them before any bad breath treatment, including herbal remedies for halitosis will do any good. If the professionals don't find a problem, investigate your options for a commercial product specifically formulated for people who suffer from uncomplicated chronic halitosis. Many are readily available in pharmacies, however, there are other products marketed by alternative medicine professionals that might appeal to you, especially if you are partial to the idea of using herbs for bad breath. The most promising approach will be one that aims to significantly reduce the number of odor-causing bacteria inhabiting your mouth. There are several good natural products available now that will help you get a bad breath problem under control.