How to Use Folk Medicine to Treat Bad Breath
Folk medicine is a traditional form of medicine that relies on the use of herbs, botanicals and simple, household items. Because folk medicine was around long before modern medicine, every corner of the globe has developed its own regional version. It can be used to treat common ailments like bad breath or serious problems like diabetes. Bad breath can often be treated with simple herbs, rinses or dietary changes. Follow these steps to learn more.Things You'll Need
- Internet access
- Baking soda
- Mint Leaves
Instructions
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Find Bad Breath Cures
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Start by learning. Visit Web sites like MotherNature.com to find useful tips and time-tested remedies for bad breath (see Resources below).
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Speak with your elders. Grandparents and older aunts and uncles who grew up in rural parts of this, or in other countries, may have insights into folk medicine practices.
Consider Your Habits
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Use the most natural remedy available: water. Drink it frequently. Many bad breath problems may never return.
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Measure your speech. If you talk a lot, you'll need more water. Stay on top of it for better breath.
Try These Folk Remedies
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Treat yourself to a snack of citrus fruit, like oranges, lemons and limes. They hydrate your mouth as well as cleanse it with citric acid and enzymes.
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Use a mixture of baking soda and water to rinse regularly. The sodium present in baking soda is said to help eliminate bacteria between the teeth and on the tongue.
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Treat your tongue. For clean, fresh breath, buy an inexpensive tongue scraper from a health food store. If you prefer, you can simply brush your tongue with your toothbrush. Do this every time you brush your teeth. Be sure you do so gently.
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Keep the sinuses clean. Sometimes bad breath can be traced to saliva collection in the sinuses. A folk medicine remedy for this consists of snorting a saltwater solution to clean out the passages. Don't swallow this solution. Instead, spit it out.
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