Do you have a bad breath? Give Your Mouth a Special Treat!

If you have a problem with bad breath, here is a solution. Give your mouth a special treat with homemade herbal preparations.

These are far gentler than commercial antiseptic mouthwashes, which can upset the natural acid balance of the mouth. Using a combinations of products, methods and natural herbs, bad breath can become past.

A pleasant tasting mouthwash is made with 1 tsp each of ground nutmeg, cloves, cardamom pods and caraway seeds, and a handful of fresh lemon verbena leaves (½ oz dried). Put the spices and lemon verbena in a pan with 2½ cups water, and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain through a sieve lined with kitchen paper, and then pour into a bottle. To use, dilute 1-2 tbsp in a glass of water.

Clean teeth fight off harmful bacteria and plaque and will keep your breath fresh. For strong teeth, include plenty of calcium in your diet from dairy products and fresh green vegetables. Also include vitamin D from oily fish, eggs and dairy produce. Eat avocados and bananas, meat and potatoes for potassium, and pulses (legumes), nuts and cereals for magnesium.

Garden herbs can contribute to your mouth detox: chewing parsley can help dispel garlic-drenched breath.

LAVENDER MOUTHWASH

1. 1 tbsp dried lavender
2. 1½ cups mineral water
3. 2 tbsp sweet sherry

Add the lavender to a pan containing the mineral water 30 minutes. Strain through a sieve lined with kitchen paper and add the sweet sherry. Pour the mix into a clean screw-topped bottle and store in a cool dark place. The alcohol acts as a preservative, so the mix will keep for up to 1 month. To use, dilute 1-2 tbsp in a glass of water and gargle at the back of the mouth.

Fresh sage leaves (1 oz) can be chopped and mixed with 4 tsp of sea salt, and baked in a low oven for 1 hour until crisp. Pound to a fine powder, then sprinkle on to a damp toothbrush to use.