Bad breath is one of those things that can really shake your confidence. Hopefully, you had friends who told you politely, but it’s still quite embarrassing. It can affect how people perceive you since bad breath is often linked to a lack of hygiene. Luckily, bad breath can be easily combated. It also helps to know what could be causing it.
Causes Of Bad Breath
- Eating certain foods like onion, garlic, and strong cheeses
- Dry mouth
- Poor dental hygiene
- Smoking or using tobacco-based products
- Bacteria
- Infections
Note: Bad breath could also be a sign of some underlying health condition. Talk to your physician to confirm if you could be at risk for something of that sort.
How To Combat Bad Breath
Our mouths should ideally produce a lot of saliva during the day. Saliva is a natural way to flush out the bacteria in the mouth. This is why a dry mouth normally leads to bad breath. Antibacterial ingredients can also help because they can kill odor-causing bacteria. Neutralizing the acidic food residue can also help prevent odor.
Why Lemon Works
Lemon is a great option because it does all three of the things listed above that fight odor.
- The sour taste of lemon promotes the production of saliva which helps flush out saliva.
- Lemon juice shows antibacterial properties which can kill odor-causing bacteria.1
- Lemon can also maintain teeth and gum health because of its vitamin C content.2
- Although lemon is acidic it has a neutralizing effect when it comes in contact with water.
How To Use Lemon To Get Rid Of Bad Breath
1. Lemon Water
Squeeze half a lemon into a glass of water. Drink this twice daily. The water you drink will help hydrate and moisten your mouth while the lemon promotes saliva production and kills bacteria.
2. Lemon Ice Cubes
Find an ice cube tray that makes smaller cubes. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to each compartment and top it up with water. Stir together and freeze. You can even add a pinch of ground cinnamon to the bottom of each compartment before you add the lemon juice into the tray.
3. Lemon Peel
Grind dried lemon peel into a fine powder. When you brush your teeth, mix this powder with water and use this as toothpaste.
4. Lemon and Ginger
Ginger juice is also a great neutralizer when it comes to bad breath. Combine teaspoon each of ginger juice and lemon juice. Add this to a glass of warm water. Use this as a gargling solution. Gargle with this solution twice daily.
5. Lemon And Baking Soda
Baking soda also has an alkaline effect which may help neutralize the acidic food residue and prevents odor. In a bottle combine the juice of one lemon, a teaspoon of baking soda and half a cup of water. Close the lid of the bottle tightly and shake vigorously. Use two tablespoons of this mixture to gargle with. Swish the mixture around your mouth for 1 minute and then spit it out. Once you are done, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. Do this once or twice a day.
Note: If these remedies aren’t quite as effective as you’d like, you can just suck on a wedge of lemon or lemon peel. However, be warned. The strong acid can erode the enamel on your teeth so don’t do this too often.
Bad breath can hold you back from a lot of opportunities because it strips you of your confidence. Now that you’re armed with the remedy, get out there and be confident in yourself!
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