Tea Leaf Talk

Does peppermint tea really kill bad breath?

I just had a salad with alot of onions and although I brushed my teeth I still taste onion (gross, I know) so I’m going to super-scrub my teeth again but I have to go out soon so I can’t spend all evening in the bathroom. Would peppermint tea help get rid of my horrible breath?

Hi Sunny,

I have heard that peppermint is a good natural bad breath remedy. But there are other ways to fix your bad breath.

First of all, let me say that bad breath does not necessarily mean that person has poor oral hygiene. Despite brushing your teeth regularly, are you brushing and cleaning your tongue as well?

Yes, it is important to brush your tongue, but I know that people with a sensitive gag reflex can really hate having to do it. It’s also important to brush the roof of your mouth too. Tongue scraping (and brushing) alone won’t fix bad breath and/or if you have white tongue. It depends on the shape and texture of your tongue, diet and a bunch of other things. Also, you can hurt your tongue if you scrape it too hard. You have to clean your tongue correctly. You can check out more about tongue coating here http://www.therabreath.com/art_whitetongue.asp and find out more about that yucky gunk on your tongue too.

For the back of your tongue, try using a mouthwash without alcohol in it, that should help too. Try any of Therabreath’s mouthwashes. None of them contain alcohol and they are safe enough to swallow.

There are several things that may cause bad breath. Dry mouth and gum disease are often linked to bad breath. This is because the volatile sulfur producing compounds in our mouth that cause bad breath thrive in a dry, anaerobic environment. When our mouths are full of healthy, oxygen-rich saliva, then it is harder for the bacteria to thrive and create bad breath.

Diet can also cause bad breath. Dairy foods, foods rich in sugar, a diet rich in meat products and alcohol can result in bad breath. If you are lactose intolerant, this might be the main cause of your bad breath.

Dairy foods are notorious for creating bad breath. People that are lactose intolerant end up with more dense proteins available as bad breath fuel for the bacteria than those who have no problem with dairy foods (milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc.) The end result is a buildup of amino acids, which are easily converted into volatile sulfur compounds by the anaerobic bacteria found within the surface of your tongue and throat.

To avoid bad breath, brush, floss and use an oral rinse without alcohol in it 2-3 times a day. Make sure you brush the roof of your mouth and your tongue as well. Eating crisp fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots can help too.

There’s an article titled “Bad Breath Remedies That Work” here: http://blog.therabreath.com/2010/08/bad-breath-remedies-that-work/#more-1234. It gives some more tips on how to avoid stinky breath.

Also, have you thought about taking an oral care probiotic of some sort? Here’s a great site with tons of information on probiotics and its benefits: www.proprobiotics.com

I hope this helps!

Twinings Pure Peppermint Tea Keurig K-Cups, 36 Count $25.99 Peppermint is renowned for its refreshing and aromatic properties. This careful selection of 100% pure peppermint leaves will give you an uplifting and refreshing herbal tea experience.The Keurig single-cup brewing system uses a special packaging for coffee, tea and hot cocoa called K-Cup portion packs or “K-Cups”. Each K-Cup is an airtight, mini-brewer that locks out oxygen, light, moisture and h…

Twinings Pure Peppermint Tea Keurig K-Cups, 72 Count $40.84 Peppermint is renowned for its refreshing and aromatic properties. This careful selection of 100% pure peppermint leaves will give you an uplifting and refreshing herbal tea experience.The Keurig single-cup brewing system uses a special packaging for coffee, tea and hot cocoa called K-Cup portion packs or “K-Cups”. Each K-Cup is an airtight, mini-brewer that locks out oxygen, light, moisture and h…

Vandor 12 -Ounce Mug, Peanuts All Stars $8.25 Start the morning off right with this great looking, funny Charlie Brown coffee mug. Features the Peanuts all star line-up in their baseball attire….