Do you more often find people covering their nose and mouth in a non offensive way while talking to you? Or sometimes they take a few steps back when you open your mouth to utter a word? Beware! You might have Halitosis or bad breath! This problem can ruin your social life!

How to Test Bad Breath?
There are ways to test your breath if you don't find any close friend to tell you how bad it is!

• • Cup your hands and breathe deeply into them. Now sniff, you'll know whether you have bad breath or not.
• • Pull a floss gently between your teeth, remove and sniff it. If it gives out foul smell, you too smell.

How to Overcome Bad Breath?
Bad breath is often the result of both- external and internal body factors. When you are careless about your mouth care, bacteria develops in the mouth and you can suffer from bad breath. Indigestion and stomach & intestinal disturbances also lead to foul smell in breath. Sinus or throat infections, tobacco and alcohol use are other causes of bad breath. Therefore, avoiding these factors will automatically prevent bad breath. Proper mouth care and keeping the bowel functions smooth by taking proper Ayurvedic diets can keep this problem at bay. Additionally, quit smoking and alcohol to take care of the external factors.

Home Remedies for Bad Breath

Below is the list of certain measures in form of herbs and other common ingredients plus proper hygienic practices that can spare you from bad breath.

• • Avoid food items belonging to garlic family.
• • Avoid coffee, beer, wine and whiskey and have lots of water.
• • Empty stomach too causes bad breath. Ensure you eat at least three meals a day
• • Brush your teeth after every meal. Don't leave the tongue, gently sweep the top of your tongue too.
• • Make it a habit to rinse your mouth after every meal if you can't brush them each time.
• • Chew mint leaves. Pudina is a good option to chew after meals or use these leaves in dishes after drying them.
• • Gargle with some minty mouthwash for temporarily getting rid of bad smell. Avoid mouthwashes containing dyes and alcohol.
• • Carry a tiny bag with cloves, fennel or anise seeds and chew some after you have taken a meal that will surely lead to foul smell.
• • Parsley freshens breath naturally. Chew it thoroughly.
• • Gargle with baking soda or lemon dissolved in some warm water. Cleaning tongue with it is also beneficial.
• • Drink a hot cup of unsweetened tea.
• • After meals, chew some sunflower seeds and drink a glass of water.
• • Have tea made from Fenugreek (methi) seeds.
• • An apple a day will remove the bacteria causing bad breath.
• • Chew cardamom seeds to have aromatic breath. It is a good breath freshener.
• • Take food products that are rich in zinc as they check the growth of anaerobic bacteria in the mouth.
• • Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar just before each meal which can be had with a glass of water. It aids digestion.