Whether caused by an easily controlled problem or the result of a more serious condition, you don’t want to live with bad breath. The good news is – you don’t have to. The following seven herbs have been proven to go beyond trying to hide bad breath and help to actually get rid of it. When used, especially together, these herbs help cleanse your mouth and freshen your breath.
1. Peppermint
A large majority of toothpastes contain peppermint flavoring, and this isn’t by accident. Peppermint has the ability to give the mouth a fresh, clean feeling. Essential oils from peppermint (real peppermint, not flavoring) does much more than create a fresh feeling. One study showed that peppermint oils actually help reduce bad breath more effectively than a lab-produced chemical rinse.
2. Tea Tree
Tea tree oil has been long known among natural health practitioners for its toxicity to harmful, bad breath causing organisms. With these powerful properties, researchers have examined the effectiveness of tea tree oil extract in mouth rinses. One such study found tea tree oil eliminated a wider range of microorganisms than the chemical chlorhexidine. Another study found that Solobacterium moorei, a bacteria associated with halitosis, was highly susceptible to the effects of tea tree oil. Included in a rinse, it offers a complete cleansing effect in the battle against bad breath. Tea tree oil has also been found successful in addressing Candida, which can cause bad breath.
3. Sage
Sage has been known since ancient times as a healing herb. Modern research has only validated its effectiveness against harmful organisms and its powerful halitosis fighting abilities. Sage has been shown to be effective against bad breath causing organisms such as Candida albicans, Streptoccocus mutans, and Porphyromonas gingivalis.
4. Myrrh
Myrrh has been used for thousands of years in a myriad of ways. For those looking to battle bad breath – whatever the cause – myrrh is a potent natural remedy. Used both as an antiseptic and analgesic, myrrh helps cleanse the mouth of germs and also addresses conditions that may encourage future growth.
