Bad breath can be an embarrassing condition for those who suffer from it – and despite many products like toothpastes, mouthwashes and powders being out there, it can be a condition which is difficult to treat. Fortunately, apple cider vinegar offers a natural and inexpensive way to help take care of this problem and get your breath fresh again!
Read on to find out more about curing bad breath with apple cider vinegar.
The Lowdown on Bad Breath
While everyone understands what bad breath is, not many know much about its causes. The truth is, there are many things that can cause this problem. The Mayo Clinic notes that many of the usual suspects include:
- Particles of food that get stuck in the nooks and crannies of and around the teeth
- Bacteria build-up on the teeth and tongue
- Certain medications
- Eating certain foods, such as those with onions or garlic or which are heavily spiced (like a curry dish)
- Some medical issues/conditions like gum disease, sinus infections, poor digestion or even cancer
- Use of tobacco products
If you do find that your breath is not fresh, one of the first things you should do is to review your oral hygiene habits. Are you brushing 2-3 times a day, especially after meals and/or before you go to bed? Are you flossing? Do you make sure to brush your tongue along with your teeth? Are you using mouthwash? The answer to all these questions should be “yes” if you want to make sure that your mouth is both healthy and odor-free.
If you already do everything suggested above but are still having problems, consider adding apple cider vinegar to your daily routine.
How To To Erase Bad Breath with Apple Cider Vinegar
So how can apple cider vinegar help you win your battle over bad breath?
First, apple cider vinegar has a high concentration of malic and acetic acid and because of these acidic properties, it can create an environment that is unfriendly to bacteria. This can help to kill off the bacteria on the teeth and tongue that could be causing the bad breath to begin with.
Second, apple cider vinegar contains a rich blend of minerals – including calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, copper, sulfur and other trace minerals that are all important to support the overall health of the mouth and teeth – as well as providing the rest of the body with these important nutrients.
Third, apple cider vinegar can help improve overall digestion, one of the possible causes for bad breath mentioned above.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar
The best thing about apple cider vinegar is that not only is it cheap and available at nearly every grocery store, it really is affective at conquering the issue of bad breath. Below are various recipes for apple cider vinegar drinks, gargles and mouthwashes to help improve this problem:
Apple Cider Vinegar Daily Drink Recipe
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup (8 ounces) water
Stir the apple cider vinegar together and drink this daily after meals to help improve digestion and kill the bacteria that causes bad breath.
Apple Cider Vinegar Gargle Recipe
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup warm water
Use this as gargle and then swish the liquid around in your mouth before spitting it out. Be sure not to swallow this mixture as it can just make bad breath worse.
Apple Cider Vinegar-Parsley Chew
- Small handful of fresh parsley
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
To combine the antibacterial properties of parsley and apple cider vinegar, simply dip the parsley leaves in the vinegar itself, chew them thoroughly and then spit them out.
Apple Cider Vinegar Mouthwash
- 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup warm water
Stir the apple cider vinegar into the water and use as a mouthwash, swishing it around your mouth and then spitting it out.
Baking Soda/Apple Cider Vinegar Brush
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 2-3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup water
Mix the baking soda and apple cider vinegar into a paste and brush your teeth with it as you would brush them normally, then rinse with the water, swishing and spitting the water out.
There is no best way to do this – it will depend entirely on your own preferences. However, all the recipes given above are effective ways to help cleanse your teeth of the bacteria and improve your digestion, both of which can, in turn, help improve your bad breath with apple cider vigar, and also your overall health.
The takeaway here is that while bad breath can be a complicated problem, apple cider vinegar can be the answer you’ve been looking for. And even better is the fact that it can be bought at any supermarket for mere dollars and it will save you a ton of money while freshening your breath once and for all.