Bad breath can be quite a put off and if you suffer from it, then it is very important to know how to deal with it. Although the market has plenty of breath mints and gums to help solve the bad breath issue, most of them end up drying your mouth further, causing the same problem they were meant to solve. What you need is a long term solution that cannot be solved by a mouth wash or tooth paste, as these products will only mask the smell and not cure it. Here are some natural ways to deal with bad breath.

Dental hygiene

Just brushing your teeth may not be enough because you cannot remove bits of food stuck between your teeth by simply brushing. Food stuck inside the mouth rots and that could be the source of bad breath. Picking your teeth with a toothpick maybe a good idea in some cases, as is flossing every day. In fact, flossing is a must as you grow older and the gaps in your teeth widen, leaving more space for food to collect in.

Tooth decay

A visit to the dentist every 6-8 months is not only a good idea for a regular clean up, but imperative since you may have cavities that you are un-aware off. Tooth decay is an insidious cause of bad breath so a visit to the dentist may be in order if you suddenly find yourself plagued with bad breath.

Digestive issues

Bad breath can stem from digestive issues too. If your body reacts badly to certain foods then eating them can cause bad breath. For example for those who are lactose intolerant, dairy intake in any form can cause bad breath, as the body is not able to digest the food well. Therefore, you need to keep a watch on whether you get bad breath after you eat certain foods or food groups and see if a pattern exists, just like you would for an allergy.

Food

Bad breath caused by food is generally short lived. Certain strong tasting foods like fish, onions, and garlic can leave a foul aftertaste. Some of these foods can linger in your breath for days on end. So it is important to take extra care once you’ve eaten foods that will make you smell funny, and ensure that you floss, brush, pick with more attention to detail than normal.

Other natural remedies: Here are some other remedies you could try if all of the above fail and you still have persistent bad breath. 

• Mint oil – put a few drops of mint oil on your toothbrush along with toothpaste. It's rather strong but has a cooling effect in the mouth.
• Citrus – chewing on lime or lemon can freshen your breath in a pinch.
• Ginger – Ginger can cut through bad breath easily, provided you like the smell of ginger in the first place.

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