Halitosis? HaliNOsis!: Getting Closer With Aloe

There’s no getting past it. Everyone has to deal with bad breath. Don’t lie to me and pretend that you wake up in the morning with breath smelling of roses. Liar. You know you have dragon breath. Make aloe your friend.

What are the Reasons Behind Bad Breath?

There are different reasons why you may have bad breath, also known as halitosis. It could be lack of oxygen flow (morning dragon breath), the foods you are eating, tonsil stones (which are gross, and I will come back to them at another time), gum disease, or dry mouth (perhaps from antihistamines). Once you have identified the culprit, then you can find the cure. Think about it–mints and gum only mask the problem. They are not a cure, but aloe vera can help you get some relief. Aloe vera and bad breath–now there’s a combination you might not have heard of!

Aloe Vera and Bad Breath

Take aloe vera and bad breath will not stand a chance. Why? What are the great benefits of using a natural home remedy? The ingredients used are things you know, are comfortable with, and can pronounce! Did you know that mouthwash that is commercially produced contains large amounts of alcohol? Did you know that alcohol can cause permanent bad breath if used for too long? It can dry out the mouth, reducing salivary production, and can cause digestive problems. Saliva is very important when it comes to fighting bad breath since it suppresses the bacteria that cause it. With digestion, if there is an imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in your system, bad breath will occur.

Using Aloe can help for a few reasons. It is a natural anti-fungal and antibacterial. It also helps to protect the sensitive tissue in the mouth. It will help to kill the bad bacteria as well as fight tooth decay. Also, it boosts the body’s ability to create collagen, which strengthens weak and swollen gums. If concocting your own Aloe remedies is too time-consuming, you can check out toothpastes or tooth-gels that have Aloe Vera in them. One I found is called Therabreath tooth-gel. It contains aloe, and doesn’t have any sugar or alcohol. It also contains OXYD-8 which oxidizes the mouth, creating an environment where bacteria cannot stay or develop.

Aloe Products that Freshen Your Breath

• Aloe mouthwash (see recipe below) can be a good way to keep your breath smelling sweet.

• Another way of using Aloe Vera to combat bad breath is to ingest it. Take a 1/4 cup of pure Aloe Vera gel and dissolve it in about 1/2 cup of water or apple juice. Drink this to soothe acid indigestion, which is a very common cause of bad breath. The anti inflammatory compound, B-sitosterol, found in Aloe will soothe the indigestion. Be wary because in larger doses, Aloe does work like a laxative.

• Don’t forget about aloe pills, too! Although you can take these supplements to get aloe into your system and your bad breath out, some are pricey and cannot be made at home. The convenience of popping  a pill, however, might override the money issue for you, though! Another perk? Aloe vera in pill form does not give you any lingering tastes of the plant in your mouth. And if you’ve already tried an aloe juice or mouthwash, you know what I am talking about! Aloe can be a hard food to swallow all by its lonesome! Also, you will want to check out the side effects of aloe pills before you go that route to take care of your bad breath. Taking too much aloe can replace your breath problem with more serious health issues: digestive and/or kidney problems.

Take your pick! Try any form above of aloe vera and bad breath will not stand a chance!

Make Your Own Aloe Mouthwash!

Another option would be to make some mouthwash! There are many variations on these recipes, but here are a few to start off with. Keep in mind, baking soda kills all the bacteria in the mouth and acts as a natural whitener. Glycerin acts as an antiseptic. Another helpful herb is parsley. You can either chew on the parsley or add it to any of the following concoctions. I’m going to start with a minty one.

Minty Aloe Mouthwash

Try this minty mouthwash made with aloe vera and bad breath will be a problem of the past! Here’s how to whip up a batch of the life-saving stuff:

1. Take water, baking soda, glycerin, Aloe Vera gel, and mint. First, boil the water. Once it is bubbling, add the baking soda. when the solution cools, add the glycerin, Aloe Vera gel, and mint. Mix thoroughly and then filter before use.
2. The same as before except with lemon instead of mint. You need to be careful with this one though, since the citric acid in the lemon will harm your tooth enamel.
3. Add all the same ingredients as before but this time, keep the mint and add rosemary leaves and anise seeds. After all the herbs are added, the solution is boiled again and then filtered.

For more recipes, check out my article on sore throats.

So, whether you are looking to get a little closer to a special someone, gain some confidence when you talk to people, or cure a chronic problem, I hope this was able to help.

Check back later. There’s always more.