According to the ancient practice of Ayurveda, the root cause of bad breath is poor digestion and/or poor oral hygiene.

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is much more common than we think and one of those ‘taboo’ subjects that many of us don’t feel comfortable addressing. But bad breath goes far beyond social embarrassment; it’s usually a symptom of a deeper issue within the body, which we believe can be corrected with natural cures.

As we covered in our recent article ‘How Your Gut Health And Oral Health Are Related’, both your gut and mouth are interconnected, in that when your gut bacteria is out of balance, your oral health suffers, and as a result, leads to unsavory breath. The good news is that there are some easy, natural cures that don’t just involve masking bad breath but get to the root cause and can rid that ghastly smell forevermore! Hoorah!

So, why exactly does this odor smell so unpleasant?

The unpleasant smell is mainly due to the sulfur-producing bacteria that live on the surface of the tongue, gums, and throat. When these bacteria break down protein, they release volatile sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide, which is what causes the bad breath. When food has not been digested properly, the food particles and dead cells in the mouth collect bacteria, which thrive in oxygen-depleted environments, such as the tongue and deeper gum pockets. This is why you will usually see a thick white coating on the top of your tongue, which in Ayurveda, represents a build-up of ama (toxins), that have no way of exiting the body efficiently.

Awesome, natural ways to release toxins!

First of all, let’s look at the ‘erbs!

We recommend giving these herbal concoctions a chew throughout the day, especially after meals.

Mint and parsley

Mint and parsley are excellent herbs for fighting bad breath. The chlorophyll in the leaves acts as a natural mouth freshener and helps to scrape away the odor-causing bacteria from your mouth.

Fennel seeds and cardamom pods

Fennel seeds and cardamon not only help in the secretion of saliva, but they are both great germ busters! Cardamon especially is a powerful antibiotic and antibacterial that works to immediately counter the volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath.

If you’d rather not chew, then feel free to make a tea out of any of these herbs, which is also effective for keeping the breath fresh.

Triphala supplement

In Ayurveda, this herb is the herb or all herbs when it comes to digestion support. It helps with regular elimination, detoxification and regulating gut imbalances. As we know, healthy digestion protects the body against the accumulation of toxins and ensures the proper elimination of wastes, which therefore helps to eradicate bad mouth odor.

Tongue scraper and oil pulling

When your body releases toxins, they are stored on your tongue so it is essential they are removed on a daily basis.

If you really want to go the extra mile to release toxins from your tongue, we strongly recommend tongue scraping! For those of you who already use your toothbrush to brush your tongue, this really is the next level up when it comes to a clean, toxic free and healthy looking tongue. Tongue scrapers are super cheap and easy to use, not to mention extremely satisfying!

Another great way to remove toxins from your mouth is by practicing oil pulling, which involves swishing sesame or coconut oil in the mouth for up to 15 minutes and spitting out. Check out our article, ‘Ayurveda: The Ancient Practice That Zaps Away Toxins’, which gives you a more detailed look at the benefits of tongue scraping and oil pulling and how to use these practices most efficiently.

Our favorite herbal remedy for bad breath comes in the form of a little bottle of herbs and minerals, which is jam-packed full of 100% natural ingredients that help to neutralize the bad bacteria in the mouth and rid those nasty toxins that cause bad breath.

Good-Gums all-natural tooth and gum powder is cleansing (baking soda and salt), acid neutralizing (baking soda), antiseptic (cranberry and peppermint), soothing (peppermint and myrrh), nutrient-rich for cell growth (vitamin C) and highly absorbent (citrus bioflavonoids).

Baking soda especially helps to neutralize volatile sulfur compounds, which are primarily responsible for causing bad breath. Also, peppermint, as well as helping to reduce strains of harmful bacteria in the mouth, adds that extra minty fresh flavor to your mouth, helping your breath stay fresh all day long.