Natural Remedies for Bad Breath, Whiter Teeth & Healthy Gums

Bad Breath (Halitosis)

The health of your mouth, teeth, gums and oral cavity have a profound impact on the health of your entire body. Diet, immune system, genetics, inflammation, microbial balance, nutrition, and methylation all interact and affect oral health. Although anyone can experience occasional bad breath aka halitosis, chronic bad breath and body odor are symptoms of an imbalance in the body and may be a warning sign of a deeper underlying health problem. Bad breath can be embarrassing and those that suffer with chronic bad breath are usually unaware of how pungent their breath really is.

Chewing gum and sucking on breath mints will not address the root cause of bad breath. Bad breath can be an indication of an oral health problem such as an infection, a problem in the gut (very common and often the case), poor lifestyle choices, and unhealthy habits.

Root Cause of Bad Breath

The key factor to eliminating bad breath (and body odor) is to identify the root cause!

Digestive

Digestion insufficiency (carbohydrate fermentation and protein putrefication due to HCL insufficiency) as a result of hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) or achlorhydria (zero stomach acid).
Bacteria imbalances in the colon
Acid reflux (a sign of poor digestion and malnourishment)
Poor protein digestion resulting in proteins that putrefy in the gut
Pancreatic deficiency

Infections, Leaky Gut, Disease and Toxic Overload

Chronic sinus infections or sinusitis can cause rancid smelling breath (90% of all sinus infections are fungal related)
Problems in the mouth such as tooth decay, gum disease, tonsillitis, hidden dental infections, cavitations, gingivitis and periodontitis
Root-canaled teeth. Leaky infected root canals cause inflammation and infections, contributing to bad breath. It was Weston A. Price, DDS who became suspicious that root-canaled teeth always remained infected, in spite of treatments. Root-canaled teeth are essentially “dead” teeth that can become silent incubators for highly toxic anaerobic bacteria that can, under certain conditions, make their way into your bloodstream to cause a number of serious medical conditions—many not appearing until decades later causing chronic degenerative and neurological diseases.
Liver congestion or liver disease
Respiratory infections
Leaky gut
Kidney disease
Diabetes
Rule out heavy metal toxicity, Candida overgrowth, H. pylori, SIBO and other underlying infections and bacteria imbalances that contribute to bad breath

► Lifestyle factors linked to bad breath

Poor dental hygiene (one of the many risk factors of heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease is poor dental health).
Constipation
Dehydration
Sugar and carb-heavy diets
Obesity
OTC and prescription medications (antidepressants, diuretics and even aspirin) can cause dry mouth, which is a direct cause of bad breath.
Stress, fatigue and adrenal dysfunction
Extreme dieting and fasting
Higher protein intake, especially when combined with an inability to digest protein
Ketosis
Food intolerances and food sensitivities
Mouth breathing, which can cause dry mouth and bad breath
Tobacco, coffee and alcohol use
Zinc or magnesium deficiency

“Periodontal diseases can predispose individuals to several systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, oral and colorectal cancer, GI diseases, respiratory tract infections and pneumonia, adverse pregnancy outcomes, diabetes, insulin resistance, and Alzheimer’s disease. [Biomed J. 2019 Feb]

Natural Remedies for Bad Breath, Whiter Teeth and Healthier Gums - Paula Owens, MS Holistic Nutritionist and Functional Health Practitioner

Natural Remedies for Bad Breath, Whiter Teeth & Healthy Gums

Food as Medicine for Healthy Gums and Fresh Breath

Fresh green smoothies: celery, parsley, spinach, watercress, fennel, carrot, cucumber, lemon and lime
Drink a cup of water with the juice from a fresh lemon or lime upon rising.
Chlorophyll-rich herbs and foods: parsley, cilantro, basil and an abundance and assortment of leafy greens, plants and vegetables
Include more fermented foods such as homemade sauerkraut
Herbs: chew fennel, cardamom or anise seeds, which contain cineole, a potent antiseptic that destroys bacteria
Before meals drink a mixture of one tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar in a small amount of water with a sprinkle of cinnamon or ginger
Sip on tea: Pau d ‘Arco, fennel tea, peppermint, bergamot, black, white and green tea. The polyphenols in tea help prevent growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath.
Chew food thoroughly to activate enzyme activity.
Chew a sprig of fresh parsley, a fresh piece of ginger root, fresh wedge of lemon or lime after meals.
Drink generous amounts of clean, filtered water every day. Add a pinch of Celtic sea salt, cinnamon or ginger to the water, fresh rosemary or mint leaves.
Realize that eating items such as curry, garlic, onions, hot peppers, meat, tuna and strong cheeses may contribute to bad breath that can last for 24 hours.
Avoid sugar, grains and processed foods – a fuel source for bacteria that directly causes bad breath.

Lifestyle Tips for Whiter Teeth, Healthier Gums and Fresh Breath

Keep your teeth and gums healthy by consistently practicing good oral hygiene. Hundreds of bacteria reside in the mouth.
Brush your teeth, gums and your tongue (two to three times daily) especially after meals and before bedtime.
Floss every single day. Daily flossing is crucial as it disrupts invisible microbial biofilms.
Use only non-fluoride toothpaste or tooth soap. Other options include coconut oil, bentonite clay, sea salt and aluminum-free baking soda or Essential Oxygen BR toothpaste
Brush gum area softly and lightly with a few drops of liquid iodine forte (helpful for bacteria) or Uncle Harry’s Tooth and Gum Elixir.
Use the tongue scraper and brush your tongue with baking soda before bedtime.
Daily flossing is highly important, especially before bedtime.
Disinfect your toothbrush and tongue scraper periodically with liquid iodine and water. Rinse your toothbrush and tongue scraper in food-grade hydrogen peroxide before using.
Replace your toothbrush every month to prevent bacteria buildup.
Invest in an electric toothbrush to help reduce tartar and plaque buildup
Avoid commercial mouthwash as most contain alcohol, flavorings, colors and dyes.
Use aloe vera or Eco-Dent Ultimate Essential MouthCare Rinse or Essential Oxygen BR Rinse as a mouthwash for fresher breath and to combat bad breath and remove dental plaque
DIY homemade mouthwash: add a couple drops of tea tree oil, clove oil, peppermint oil or thyme oil to a bottle of food-grade hydrogen peroxide (Essential Oxygen BR Rinse).
Consider oil pulling with coconut oil (effective for reducing plaque, bacterial and halitosis). Oil pulling has been used extensively for many years as a traditional Indian folk remedy to prevent teeth decay, bad breath, bleeding gums, dryness of throat and cracked lips, and for strengthening the teeth and gums.
Rule out underlying bacterial, fungal, yeast, H.pylori and Candida overgrowth infections, and hidden dental infections
If you chew gum, look for chewing gum with xylitol, which reduces bacterial colonization of the mouth
Schedule regular dental checkups. Consider a ‘cone beam’ x-ray to detect hidden infections in the mouth and jaw

Nutrients for Fresh Breath

Support for digestion: digestive enzymes with HCL and probiotics are the two primary supplements for those experiencing chronic halitosis, a healthy microbiota and balanced bowel flora.
Cytozyme-THY, thymus extract normalized immune function and reduces dental dysbiosis
Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin D, important for overall health and dental health
Probiotics
Proteolytic enzymes taken on an empty stomach away from food
Grapeseed extract, helpful for gum disease prevention
CoQ10, research has shown that CoQ10 keeps the cells of your mouth and gums healthy
Determine zinc status and restore with zinc supplementation if deficient
Magnesium

Keeping your digestive system healthy, addressing leaky gut, ruling out infections and optimizing digestion is the key to eliminating bad breath. If a bacterial imbalance, Candida overgrowth, yeast or fungal infection is your problem, the appropriate dietary, lifestyle and supplemental support must be followed.

If bad breath persists after making the above changes, see your dentist or periodontist.