For most of us, bad breath is a temporary, (though highly inconvenient,) problem to have. Provided that your bad breath is not caused by digestive disorders, periodontal disease, or other medical problems, using herbs and natural means to freshen your breath can be very effective.
Simply look to your garden for these common herbal breath fresheners:
Cardamom – This spice contains cineole, which acts as an antiseptic. Chew a few seeds to make your breath smell spicy and clean your mouth.
Eucalyptus –A derivative of this familiar plant, eucalyptol, is actually used in commercial mouthwashes. It also contains cineole. Crush 1-2 ounce of the leaves and add them to a cup of vodka; steep for several days and strain out the leaves, or just leave the leaves in.
Use as a mouthwash as needed to fight bad breath. If you can’t find eucalyptus leaves, the same method works using other herbs, such as any combination of spearmint, rosemary, ginger, lavender, peppermint, basil, cinnamon, nutmeg, or fennel.
Parsley – The primary reason parsley became a garnish on restaurant dinner plates is for it’s ability to freshen breath. Chewed after a meal, parsley helps keep the dinner conversation going without bad breath interference!
Anise – If you like licorice, give anise a try. It is an ancient remedy for bad breath. You could also chew on the seeds, or make a decoction by simmering 3 teaspoons of anise seeds in a cup of water for 3-5 minutes. Cool, strain, and use as a mouthwash.
Dill – A chlorophyll-rich herb, drinking dill tea or chewing on a few dill seeds after a meal helps freshen breath.
Fresh mint – Growing mints in pots is quite easy, and nipping off a few leaves and chewing them helps to make your breath fresh.
Cloves – Chewing a few cloves will give your breath a spicy scent. Clove is also antibacterial, and clove oil is a traditional remedy for toothache.
Don’t have any of these in your garden? You can find most of these fresh herbs at your local farmers market and often at the grocer, too. It’s not to late to plant, either. Most herbs tend to grow quickly are make excellent container plants.
I didn’t know about using herbs to freshen breath. This is really cool. I am on a health kick, so I’m going to incorporate some of these into our diets.
This is a great list. I want to get another Earth Box and I will have to see if I have any of these seeds. Otherwise I may need to pick up some.
You really do learn something new everyday. I had no idea that Dill and Cardamom were natural breath freshers. I’m going to add them to my list of herbs to grow. Thanks!