In bygone days, as a result of bad teeth, disease, unhealthy food and none of the accoutrements of oral hygiene, a very great percentage of the population suffered from bad breath (halitosis0 and attempted to counteract the problem with a variety of breath fresheners ranging from sweet pellets of cloves and myrrh to cachous of rose and violet. The latter of course created a sickly odor which did nothing to remove the underlying causes of which halitosis is the result.
Eating strongly flavored foods such as garlic, onion, cheese and beer leaves an immediate smell on the breath which is reasonably transitory but bad breath caused by smoking, catarrh, sinus infection, tooth decay, tonsillitis, constipation and stomach disorders requires a cleansing and a clearing to get the body working properly. As any Victorian nanny would unequivocally have stated, ‘clean breath and a clear mind are the signs of a healthy body’.
If the problem is digestive or a temporarily upset stomach then ½ teaspoon of kaolin powder or a few drops of essential oil of peppermint in a glass of warm water will soothe and improve matters.
If the cause of halitosis is a sore throat either honey and lemon or a few drops of oil of cloves in hot water, to first gargle with and then swallow, will kill bacteria.
Any of the following chewed well will disguise the smell of recently eaten foods: parsley, mint, cardamom, cloves, aniseed, juniper berries, an apple , coffee beans, fennel seeds. All of these can also have the long-term effect of improving tummy upsets.
150ml (1/4 pint) sherry
15g (1/2oz) each ground cinnamon and
caraway
Seal tightly together in a bottle and shake frequently for one seek. This tincture should be taken, a few drops at a time, on a suger lump or in hot water to sweeten the most dire morning-after breath.
- Hydrogen peroxide One teaspoon added to a glass of warm water, with or without 1 teaspoon of sea salt, is a very cleansing gargle and mouthwash. Avoid swallowing. Good home remedy for bad breath.
- Bicarbonate of soda and sea salt One teaspoon of each in a glass of warm water makes an effective mouthwash.
- Cider vinegar, tincture of myrrh and oil of cloves A quarter of a cup of cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of clear honey and 3 drops each of tincture of myrrh and oil of cloves., diluted with a little hot water, makes an antiseptic mouthwash and gargle which can be safely swallowed. One of the best home remedies for bad breath.
- Eucalyptus oil, oil of cloves and tincture of myrrh Six drops of oil of eucalyptus and 2 drops each oil of cloves and tincture of myrrh shaken together with 600ml (1 pint) of hot water then bottled and kept handy in the bathroom is very refreshing first thing in the morning.
- Lavender, marjoram, summer savory, thyme and rosemary Separately or combined in a vinegar or infusion these antiseptic and sweet-smelling herbs are safe and pleasant to use.
Do not drink water with meals as this upsets the gastric juices.
Exercise, fresh air and deep breathing stimulate a good supply of oxygen to the system.
Visit the dentist regularly.
Examine yourself for stress problems or a poor digestive reaction to certain foods.
- Syrup of figs One teaspoon in hot water each night until the breath is sweet has much the same effect as sweet liquorice water from the Middle East.
- Lemon pips An old-fashioned remedy to kill warms (which cause notoriously bad breath) in small children was to simmer these in honey and spoon down the gooey mixture whilst still warm.
- Quince seeds Simmer the seeds in water until soft. Strain, gargle with and swallow the liquid.
