Herbal Breath Fresheners

Try some of the following proven herbal remedies if you have a problem with bad breath:

• Anise: Anise seeds are a liquorice flavoured seed that can kill the bacteria in your mouth as well as mask the odour. Other seeds worth trying are dill and cardamom.

• Cloves: Cloves are a powerful antiseptic. Make yourself a clove mouthwash. Steep 3-5 whole cloves in ½ a cup boiling water for about 20 minutes. Strain. Use twice a day.

• Thyme: Thyme, another powerful antiseptic, is the power behind Listerine. Make a thyme mouthwash by steeping 2 tablespoons fresh thyme in ½ a cup boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain and use. For a fresh lemony mouthwash try lemon thyme.

• Spearmint: Spearmint is used in commercial toothpaste for its antiseptic and breath freshening properties. To make a spearmint mouthwash see thyme above. If you don’t have spearmint try garden mint or peppermint. For kids try lemony eau de cologne mint.

• Parsley: Try chewing on a few sprigs of parsley. Parsley has been used for thousands of years in the promotion of sweet smelling breath. It’s especially good for garlic breath. Its high chlorophyll content is the secret behind commercial breath fresheners like Clorets.

• Fennel: There are two ways that you can use fennel to fight bad breath: (1) chew the leaves slowly so that saliva builds up in your mouth, or (2) pound some fresh leaves with baking soda into a paste. Use this paste to brush your teeth, gums, and tongue.

The above tips will help to keep your breath sweet smelling. Remember if you are looking for a long term solution you need to find out the cause of your bad breath.