When it comes to innovative bad breath solutions, I've heard (and tried) some weird ones. I'm a big believer in holistic health and nutrition-based remedies for anything and everything that ails you, but these solutions don't always seem "normal" at first glance. I'm not going to lie to you — I've replaced my toothpaste with burnt wood powder and I've raided the cooking oil cabinet so I could swish liquefied olives around in my mouth. I will also swear up and down that these things work better than most conventional methods.
However, some people aren't always so quick to try them out, and that's when a little bit of reassurance is in order. That's why I'm totally in love with Reddit, especially the boards about curing bad breath. It's essentially just a bunch of normal everyday people like me who have tried these remedies and absolutely love them, so they want to share their insights with other people.
Another reason I love it? While most comment boards very quickly become a virtual war zone of bullying, Reddit is (for the most part) a really tight-knit community. Everyone's pretty supportive, honest, and helpful, so if you're looking to try out some new innovative breath-freshening tactics, check out what these Redditors have to say.
1According To Reddit, A Good Tongue Scraper Makes All The Difference
Professional Stainless Steel Tongue Cleaner, $12, Amazon
Almost everyone on Reddit notes the importance of tongue-scraping, including what_a_cat_astrophe: "Grab a tongue scraper (one that covers most of your tongue and has relatively 'sharp' edges). You can brush your tongue all you want, but more crud remains than you would ever think." This professional stainless steel tongue cleaner has insanely high ratings because it's sharp without hurting your mouth, easy to hold with its rounded handles, and really simple to clean after every use.
2Remove Bacteria From The Mouth With Oil Pulling
Dr Gingers Coconut Oil Pulling Mouthwash, $18, Amazon
"It's called oil pulling," BeachBum77 comments about gargling with food-grade oils. "I use organic coconut oil and its awesome. It does so much more than you think." Dr Gingers coconut oil pulling mouthwash is a 100 percent natural solution that uses real coconut oil to freshen breath, clean your mouth, and attach to and remove bacteria. It tastes much better than plain coconut oil and is totally hassle-free.
3This Mouthwash That Encourages Salivary Flow Rather Than Drying It Out
Green Tea Pomegranate Xylitol Mouthwash, $13, Amazon
"Alcohol-free mouth wash," says xnerdyxrealistx. "Bacteria builds most when your mouth is dry... The alcohol in mouth wash makes your mouth clean for the first hour or so, but then the alcohol dries everything out and the bacteria comes out to play." This alcohol-free green tea pomegranate Xylitol mouthwash is all-natural and has a uniquely refreshing flavor that respects your mouth's good bacteria. It also uses Xylitol to encourage salivary flow, flushing out odors and bad bacteria with it.
4Use Activated Charcoal To Absorb Odors And Stains
Active Wow Charcoal Powder, $25, Amazon
"Totally unconventional but it's helped me tremendously... oil pulling and brushing with activated charcoal," says Reddit user maroger. Active Wow charcoal powder uses natural activated charcoal to absorb and pull out any stains or odors, and it's got other healthy oils that freshen breath and seriously clean your mouth. Reviewers also swear that it whitens like nothing else.
5These Lozenges That Balance Good Bacteria In The Mouth
TheraBreath Oral Care Probiotic Lozenges, $11, Amazon
A mouth that's got a healthy balance of good bacteria (to fight off the bad) will automatically smell fresher because natural cleansing functions are happening as they should. According to FlightyTwilighty, "Therabreath makes a starter kit that will repopulate your mouth with the right kind of probiotics. It totally works; I dated a fellow with terrible breath and he did the starter kit program and it cleared it right up." They rebalance oral flora and and improve your immunity, so bad germs and bacteria lessen on their own.
6Make Your Own Rinse With Peppermint Oil
ArtNaturals Peppermint Oil, $17, Amazon
"I make my own mouthwash out of bottled water and peppermint oil," says docbaker. "It is a lot more mild than alcohol mouthwash and can be used 10 times per day. It only takes about 10 drops of peppermint oil to make a small bottle and it lasts a week." ArtNaturals Peppermint Oil is an awesome option because it's 100 percent pure, unrefined, and chemical free. You can even use it to make your own portable breath spray.
7Floss With Water If Your Gums Are Especially Sensitive
Dentalski Professional Water Flosser, $70, Amazon
"I use a waterpik device and my breath has been much better since I don't have tiny particles stuck in my teeth," says Miss_rampage. The Dentalski professional water flosser uses a powerful stream of water (ideal for sensitive gums that get irritated with flossing) to remove bacteria and debris from in between teeth. It's got five different flossing tips, all of which can rotate 360 degrees, and you can even adjust the water pressure to ensure comfort and cleanliness.
8Keep Your Room Hydrated At Night To Reduce Dry Mouth
Dreamore Essential Oil Cool Mist Humidifier, $47, Amazon
Weirdly enough, one Reddit user says that keeping the air in your room hydrated can make a big difference come morning. "I'm also on a medication that causes dry mouth... Having a humidifier close to my bed seems to help at night." The Dreamore cool mist humidifier is made from BPA-free plastic, works for up to ten hours with an auto-shut off feature, and can be used as an essential oil diffuser and a nightlight.
9Stay Hydrated No Matter What
H2OPal Smart Bottle Hydration Tracker, $99, Amazon
"Most importantly stay hydrated," says baconbacksunday. "Water binds the molecules in your mouth used for digestion, such as the mucus in spit, and keeps them attached to your skin. A lack of water means these molecules can have a different vapor pressure due to their increased concentration and therefore become airborne." The H2OPal Smart Bottle tracks your hydration levels and sends them to your smart devices to set goals and prompt reminders, all in an ergonomic and travel-friendly design.
10This Sensitive Oral Rinse To Tackle Tonsil Stones
TheraBreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse, $15, Amazon
Tonsil stones are bits of calcified bacteria that get stuck in the back of your throat, and they're a common cause of unfresh breath. "Try TheraBreath mouth wash," says thebest_twin. "Works like a charm for my tonsil stones and bad breath." This pack of two neutralizes sulfur-producing bacteria without alcohol and without artificial flavors. Instead, oxygen penetrates between teeth and below the surface of the tongue to freshen even the most sensitive of mouths.
11Breathe Through Your Nose At Night To Stop Bacterial Build-Up
Breathe Right Nasal Strips, $23, Amazon
"Is your nose stuffed up?" asks aspbergerinparadise. "Use a Breathe Right nasal strip. If you're breathing through your mouth, your mouth will get very dried out and the bacteria will start to accumulate. Whereas if your mouth is closed, the saliva is constantly being circulated around your mouth and bacteria doesn't build up as much." This pack of two is comprised of flexible, spring-like bands that hold your nasal passages open without pain and without medications, so you can breathe way more effectively while you sleep.
12This Hybrid Scraper-Brush For Your Tongue
Orabrush Tongue Cleaner, $10, Amazon
"Orabrush," says Reddit user amo1994. "It's a tongue scraper and toothbrush hybrid. I can't preach how much of a wonder it is for bad breath. the amount of crap that gets layered on your tongue is unreal." Unlike your usual tongue-scraper, this one's got soft, pliable bristles that remove bacterial waste without any additional gel or paste.
13This Healthy Gum That Actually Helps Reduce Cavities
According to informationmissing, a great solution is "gum with Xylitol!" It's a natural sweetener that prompts your mouth to produce more saliva, and it's the top ingredient in this six pack of PUR Gum. Each one is a different flavor (spearmint, wintergreen, pomegranate, peppermint, cinnamon, and coolmint), and reviewers have awesome things to say: "My main goal was to find gum for my kids that didn't contain aspartame... Pur gum uses xylitol as its sweetener, which actually helps reduce cavities."
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