Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen
Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen are folk-remedy experts and home tipsters based in New York City. They have spent decades collecting “cures from the cupboard” and are authors of several books, including Secret Food Cures.
If you occasionally suffer from bad breath—and you know it’s not a symptom of gum disease these suggestions may help you make your mouth fresh and sweet-smelling…
No one likes having bad breath or being around someone who does. Homemade remedies for bad breath can help sweeten your breath for you, and for anyone you happen to be kissing. These homemade options can also be less harsh than their store bough counterparts helping those with sensitive teeth and gums.
In this excerpt from the book Household Magic by Joan and Lydia Wilen the author’s provide some homemade remedies for bad breath to help clear the air.
If you occasionally suffer from bad breath—and you know it’s not a symptom of gum disease (visit your dentist to be sure)—these suggestions may help you make your mouth fresh and sweet-smelling…
Cinnamic aldehyde—the naturally occurring chemical compound in cinnamon that’s responsible for its wonderful smell—also helps eliminate odor-causing bacteria in the mouth.
Boil two cups of water, then add five or six pieces of cinnamon stick (available at super[1]markets) and let it simmer for five minutes.
Once it’s cool, strain out the sticks and pour the liquid into an empty bottle. Use it as you would use any commercial mouthwash.
Make your after-dinner drink black tea (such as Pekoe). Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago reported that the plant chemicals catechins and theaflavin are released from black tea leaves during the brewing process. These compounds help shut down the digestive enzymes that trigger odor-producing bacteria in the mouth.
After eating onion, garlic or anything else that stays on your breath, dip your toothbrush in a small amount of distilled white vinegar and brush your teeth as well as your tongue. This should help clean your breath and may even help whiten your teeth.
For additional tips and other advice for you and your home, purchase Household Magic from Bottomlineinc.com.
