Most of the time, bad breath is caused by the multiplication of bacteria in the mouth. Getting your hands on a toothbrush, bottle of mouthwash or sugar-free gum is not always possible. Luckily, there are other things that are very effective fresheners of your breath, and they are herbs.
Yes, many of the herbs that you use for making foods taste and smell savory can also be employed for saving yourself from feeling embarrassed each time you open your mouth.
So the next time you’re at the restaurant and you feel that the person sharing the table with you will surely feel mortified when you speak, laugh or give a kiss, don’t fret. All you have to do is discreetly ask the waiter for any of the following herbs in order to have your breath freshened instantly:
Peppermint
Ever wondered why most toothpastes have peppermint in them? It’s for the simple fact that peppermint is very good at making your mouth feel clean and your breath smell delightful. Aside from actual peppermint leaves, you may also rely on peppermint essential oil which many toothpaste manufacturers use.
Eucalyptus
A lot of chewing gums have eucalyptus in them, especially if they’re meant to zap bad breath. That’s because this minty-smelling herb is very capable of neutralizing foul odor in the mouth caused by bacterial proliferation. Just like peppermint, you may count on eucalyptus essential oil to keep your breath smelling fine.
Cloves
Chewing on some cloves is a wonderful way to freshen your breath if you cannot brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with your favorite mouthwash. Clove is one of the most well-known traditional remedies for bad breath. Actually, there are a number of mouthwashes out there that rely on clove extract to deliver.
Parsley
It’s very easy to get your hands on parsley to have your breath freshened as it’s commonly used as garnish. Don’t think that parsley is only very good at masking bad breath with its characteristic smell. Scientists say that chlorophyll present abundantly in it is an excellent all-natural deodorizer.
Sage
Did you know that there are all sorts of species of bacteria that can reside in your mouth, each one of them can make your breath stand out for all the wrong reasons? Well, there is one herb that is known to zap many of those species of bad-breath causing bacteria, and that is sage that’s a staple in most kitchens.
Rosemary
Another herb that can be easily found in most kitchens is rosemary. This only means that there is no need for you to be mortified of having bad breath because you have easy access to an herb that is highly capable of freshening your mouth. Rosemary doesn’t have the word “rose” in its name for no reason at all.
Lavender
Just because lavender is pretty doesn’t mean that it’s not tough against bad breath. You may always depend on lavender whenever you feel like your breath no longer smells as fresh as it should. Lavender is also great for busting stress, which is something that can rob you time for some proper oral hygiene practices.
Basil
No kitchen would be complete without some basil in it, which is commonly added to salads, pasta sauces, pizza and soups. Chewing on a couple of basil leaves can easily put an end to that unfortunate smell your mouth has, courtesy of the herb’s oils that possess deodorizing and antimicrobial properties.
Thyme
Last but not least, you can rely on thyme each time you’re not happy with the smell of your breath. A volatile oil in this herb called “thymol” has antimicrobial effects. By the way, a lot of popular mouthwashes in the market actually contain thymol, which gives them their characteristic bad-breath zapping smell.
