Bad breath, or halitosis, is typically caused by a buildup of harmful bacteria in your mouth, but it might also be due to certain underlying health conditions. A variety of herbal treatments, mostly in the form of mouthwashes and toothpastes, can help to reduce bad breath. Consult your doctor about herbal treatment options before you begin using an herbal remedy for bad breath.
Causes
Your bad breath might be caused by oral hygiene problems, defective dental restoration, gingivitis or periodontal disease, or food stuck in your teeth. Bad breath can also be caused by other seemingly unrelated underlying medical conditions like throat infections, stomach ulcers, lung infections, liver or kidney diseases, certain types of cancer, or diabetes. The most common cause of halitosis, however, is excessive bacteria in the mouth that release sulfur gases that produce the foul odors.
Herbal Treatments
You might use certain herbal mouthwashes or toothpastes to help treat halitosis. Oral rinses containing bloodroot, myrrh, caraway, peppermint, sage, thyme oil, clove oil or tea tree oil might treat bad breath, says the University of Michigan Health System. Tea tree oil and clove oil toothpastes could also reduce bad breath. Mouthwashes containing chamomile, echinacea, mint, sage, ratania, propolis extract or a combination of the herbs could reduce halitosis and gingivitis inflammation of the gums, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Chewing gums containing pine bark extract with oligomeric proanthocyanidins, or OPCs, green tea or eucalyptus could help with bad breath. Finally, you might take borage oil supplements in the form of capsules or tablets to help reduce bad breath.
Function
Nearly all of the herbs recommended for use in mouthwashes, toothpastes or chewing gum for treating bad breath have some kind of antibacterial action. These herbs’ constituents or volatile oils can either kill bacteria in the mouth or inhibit the growth of the bacteria that cause bad breath. The OPCs in pine bark extract seem to improve gum health and decrease dental-plaque formation, which can also help treat bad breath. Borage oil contains gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA, an essential fatty acid that can potentially reduce gum inflammation from gingivitis. Therefore, taking borage oil supplements might help treat halitosis caused by gingivitis.
Scientific Evidence
A 2000 double-blind study published in the "European Journal of Medical Research" found that a candy made from green tea extract helped to reduce inflammation from gingivitis, which can cause bad breath, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Another double-blind clinical trial published in "Phytomedicine" in 2002 discovered that using a chewing gum containing pine bark OPCs reduced plaque and boosted gum health. A 1990 report by a dental college in Tokyo, Japan indicated that using a mouthwash containing the volatile oils of thyme and eucalyptus helped to significantly reduce oral bacteria after just 30 seconds, notes the University of Michigan Health System. A 2003 double-blind study reported in the "Journal of Periodontology" discovered that using a gum irrigator with a mouthwash containing ratania, sage, mint, myrrh, echinacea and chamomile was more effective than a commercial mouthwash at treating gingivitis-related gum inflammation. Finally, a double-blind clinical trial published the same year in "Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids" found that taking 3,000 mg per day of borage oil could reduce gum inflammation from gingivitis. Most of the other herbs recommended for treating halitosis have been studied only in test tubes for their actions against oral bacteria.
Dangers
If you have glaucoma or are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should avoid using bloodroot toothpastes or mouthwashes, warns the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Case reports published in "Epidemiology" in 2001 revealed that bloodroot can also cause leukoplakia, a condition that results in thick, white patches throughout the mouth. If swallowed, many herbs’ volatile oils can cause potentially severe side effects and allergic reactions. Borage oil supplements might cause constipation, as well as negative interactions with certain medications like phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or “NSAIDs." Ask your physician about the potential health risks, drug interactions and side effects of any herbal halitosis treatment before using it.
