It’s important to keep a check on the bacteria and toxins in the mouth as bacterial growth or infections travel quickly from there to other parts of the body. Here’s how you can keep your mouth smelling fresh and toxin-free.

Oil pulling

This method involves swishing about one tablespoon of organic coconut oil in the mouth for around 20 minutes. The oil helps reduce bad bacteria, remove stains from your teeth and to get rid of toxins, detoxifying not only your mouth but entire body.

You can start with half a teaspoon for about two minutes and then later work your way up. Spit the oil out in a bin and rinse your mouth with warm water. Do this at least once a week.

Tongue scraping

Tongue scraping cleans bacterial build-up, food particles and dead cells from the surface of the tongue. You can use a flexible neem twig as a disposable tongue scraper by bending it into a U shape. Scraping your tongue with this on a regular basis stimulates metabolism as it helps get rid of bacteria and toxins.

Massage your gums

The antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil help alleviate any oral problems. Neem oil lowers the chances

of plaque and that of your gums bleeding. Apply a few drops of either of the oils on your gum line and massage for a few minutes. You can leave it overnight or rinse your mouth with cold water after an hour or two.

Mouthwash

While the disinfectant and antibacterial properties of mint prevents the growth of bacteria, cloves and parsley can help get rid of bad breath. To prepare the mouthwash, you will need two to three cloves, a handful of mint and some parsley leaves. Boil these together in two cups of water. Rinse your mouth with it at least twice a day.