Nowadays more and more people are choosing to fight bad breath using less conventional methods of treatment.

While some particular home remedies for bad breath have been reported as being extremely successful, there are however others which members of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) have recommended should be avoided at all costs.

These include:

1. Chewing Gum

It’s essential to have a good supply of saliva in your mouth to keep oral bacteria – the main cause of bad breath – in check.

Whilst chewing gum can indeed help to increase your salivary flow, its effects are however limited to temporarily masking any bad smells and your smelly breath will soon return after a short time.

Instead, the best way to ensure an adequate supply of saliva is to stay properly hydrated by drinking approximately 8 glasses of water a day.

2. Mints

Excessive consumption of so-called fresh breath mints can actually have the opposite effect as you risk developing tooth cavities, themselves a cause of bad breath.

3. Mouthwashes

As our other article explains, mouthwashes which contain alcohol can actually dry your mouth out quite severely, in turn creating exactly the type of conditions that oral bacteria love and thrive in. And unfortunately more bacteria means more chance of smelly breath.

4. Mint Chew Tobacco

You might think that chewing on smokeless tobacco is less harmful to your health than smoking an actual cigarette, but in actual fact it can be just as dangerous.

It can increase your risk of losing the fibers and bones that hold your teeth in place, as well as causing your gums to recede. And it can also contribute to the risk of developing oral cancer.

5. Rinsing With Kerosene

This particular home remedy should be avoided at all costs as it can severly burn your mouth.

Likewise, you should also always steer clear of using cleansers used for household cleaning as they may contain harmful chemicals.

For more information on what not to do, check out the AAP’s website.