9 Ways to Freshen Your Breath Naturally

The other day I came down hard on gum. Turns out chewing gum is bad and I personally “just say no” when offered a piece (politely, of course). But some people are afraid to quit their gum habit for fear for monster breath. And that’s why I’m here today, to give you 9 ways to freshen your breath, naturally.http://www.thankyourbody.com/freshen-your-breath-naturally/

9 Ways to Freshen Your Breath Naturally

First, the obvious ways to freshen your breath:

1. Brush those pearly whites

Obviously one of the easiest ways to help combat bad breath is to keep up on good hygiene. Brushing your teeth is a no brainer, right? But the toothpaste you choose can make a difference. I personally don’t like most of the commercial stuff available for a number of reasons. But my all natural recipe, with some peppermint or spearmint essential oils does the trick well.

2. Floss right

Nobody wants food stuck between their teeth… I mean, that will definitely promote bad breath. But even if there aren’t noticeable chunks lodged in there, flossing can remove plaque and improve your gum health.

3. Scrape that tongue

Your tongue is not a smooth surface which means it’s a prime spot for things to hide. Brush your tongue with your toothbrush and/or get a cheap tongue scraper (like this) to help keep your mouth clean and breath fresh
On to the lesser-known ways to freshen your breath:

4. Minty goodness

Grab yourself some mint leaves and chew. This natural remedy has been used for thousands of years is especially useful for garlic or onion breath (parsley leaves work well, too!). And unlike that nasty fake-food gum, swallowing the leaves after chewing will continue to provide freshness by promoting better digestion. Real food wins, again!

5. Baking soda to the rescue

Need a quick, cheap, and easy natural breath freshener?  Mix in a tsp. of baking soda into a cup of water. Swish some of this in your mouth and “ta-da!” instant mouth wash. You can even add a drop or two of peppermint essential oil (like this) for an extra kick.

6. Probiotics for the win

Since most bad breath is a result of poor digestion, helping your gut out is a long-term solution to bad breath. Fermented foods are full of real-food-goodness probiotics. My personal way to help my gut is with some whole fat (and preferably raw) yogurt.

7. Spice is nice

Chewing on the seeds of aromatic spices can give your mouth a boost of freshness. Seeds like clove, cardamom, and fennel have antimicrobial properties that can help freshen your breath.

8. Healthy carbs

I’m definitely not a fan of restrictive diets unless there is an actual medical reason for them. And did you know that bad bread can be an unfortunate problem for people on low-carb diets? As your body breaks down fats instead of carbs for energy it creates ketones. Some of these ketones are released in your mouth which is not great since they smell bad. Just another reason to enjoy healthy carb-rich foods. (Pass me a banana, please.)

9. Lemon power

Here’s another simple quick-fix natural cure for bad breath: Take a lemon wedge sprinkled with a little salt and bite down. Oh, yeah.