Breath Freshening Essential Oils

Many medical conditions can present their symptoms indirectly through halitosis. These conditions include digestive orders, kidney or liver disease, respiratory tract infection, uncontrolled diabetes, chronic bronchitis or post nasal drip.

However, most people who are suffering from bad breath simply have improper dental hygiene, dry mouth or periodontal disease.

What Causes the Odor?

Dead cells and food particles stuck in the mouth collect bacteria that thrive in environments that don't have a large amount of oxygen - like the deep gum pockets and the tongue. These bacteria are the ones who produce volatile odor-causing sulphur compounds like hydrogen sulphide.

If you are alcoholic, you might also be prone to bad breath because it dries the mouth which reduces the production of saliva. Stress can also induce bad breath because it affects the digestive system making the body suffer from an insufficient supply of enzymes.

You can also expect to have bad breath if your body is intolerant to milk. Try to avoid foods that contain dairy to lessen your chances of having bad breath.

There are a lot, and I mean a lot, of different brands of mouthwashes in the market today with different colors, flavours, packagings, etc. Have you experienced gargling with a mouthwash before you go to school or work only to find out that its effects is already waning a few minutes after you gargled with it? Well, you're not the only one who experienced that kind of problem. Some mouthwashes just don't work well with every mouth.

If you are already a toothpaste and mouthwash with very strong cleansing and freshening properties but you are still suffering from bad breath, maybe its high time for you to try breath freshening essential oils.

Going Natural

You can try a mouthwash or toothpaste that has essential oils as their main ingredients. Studies have shown that plant oils (the main source of essential oils) can help eliminate bad breath. One study compared the effect of a mouthwash with peppermint, lemon and tea tree oil with a standard OTC mouthwash. The results showed that the level of volatile sulphur compounds was lower with the person who used the mouthwash with essential oils.

However, it is highly suggested that you buy prepared mouthwashes with essential oil(s) rather than being the one to prepare the mouthwash. You can consult your dentist should you want to switch from OTC mouthwash to herbal mouthwash.

It would be beneficial for you to ditch your mouthwash with alcohol because alcohol can make your mouth dry, thus making your mouth more prone to bad breath-causing bacteria.

Use Natural Herbs

Instead of chewing gum or candies, you can chew on a small sprig of spearmint, parsley, tarragon, or rosemary to instantly freshen your mouth the organic way.

A Recipe for an Organic Mouthwash

If you are interested or simply want to try making your own organic mouthwash using essential oil, you can try this simple "recipe".

You will need 4-5 drops of lavender diluted in 125ml of tepid water and 5ml of brandy. Use this mouthwash after you have brushed and flossed your teeth. Swirl the mixture in your mouth for about 1-3 minutes and spit it just like a normal mouthwash.

• Flossing and brushing daily are the best ways to prevent halitosis. Observing proper mouth hygiene will be a big help in achieving a healthy mouth.


• Drinking a lot of water can help prevent bad breath. By keeping the mouth and body hydrated, there will be lesser chances for you to develop bad breath.


• Don't forget to visit your dentist at least twice a year to have a general oral check up and to have your teeth cleaner and your cavities filled and treated. Visiting the dentist regularly will also prevent serious mouth problems from getting worse.


• Try to brush your tongue and gums with powdered myrrh or cloves.

Foods to Avoid

Eliminating certain types of foods in your diet may also help to alleviate your halitosis. Try to avoid high-fat foods, sugar, meat, dairy products and exotic spices that emit a very strong odor. Avoiding garlic and onion can also help you prevent bad breath from invading your mouth.

You might also want to avoid eating foods that are very sugary (like gummies, candies, jellybeans, etc) because the bacteria in your mouth like to feed on sugar. Eating lots of sweets without brushing your teeth will surely make bacteria flock to your mouth like bees to honey.

Eating more fruits and vegetables will help you to fight against bad breath. If you are a smoker, you can really expect your breath to smell like an ahs tray. If you want to eliminate bad breath, you have to stop smoking. If you are a non-smoker, following the tips mentioned in this article will ensure you to have clean and fresh breath any time of the day.

Always remember to brush your teeth and floss regularly so that no food particles will get stuck to your teeth. Using breath freshening essential oils will also make your mouth fresher and healthier, without you having to worry about harmful side effects. You can consult your dentist should you be able to find a herbal or organic mouthwash that you like.