Halitosis - Supplements

Fresh breath can lead to more enjoyable interactions with others. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.

Control the sulfur
Routinely use a toothpaste or mouthwash containing zinc compounds or stabilized chlorine dioxide to help break down odor-causing sulfur chemicals
Keep an eye on hygiene
Brush and floss regularly to keep your teeth free of food particles that can lead to halitosis
Scrub the tongue
Brush your tongue or use a commercial tongue scraper regularly to remove odor-causing agents and keep bacteria in check
Get a dental checkup
Visit your dentist to find out if problems associated with oral health are contributing to your halitosis

Also indexed as:

bad breath,
halitosis

About this treatment

What Are "Star" Ratings?

a7_3star Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

a7_2star Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

a7_1star For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Coenzyme Q10 (Gingivitis)	50 to 60 mg daily	Coenzyme Q10 is often recommended by doctors to help prevent and treat periodontitis.
Coenzyme Q10 50 to 60 mg daily Nutritional supplements recommended by some doctors for prevention and treatment of periodontitis include vitamin C (people with periodontitis are often found to be deficient),¹⁹ vitamin E, selenium, zinc, coenzyme Q10, and folic acid.²⁰ Folic acid has also been shown to reduce the severity of gingivitis when taken as a mouthwash.²¹ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Folic Acid (Gingivitis)	Use 5 ml twice per day of a 0.1% solution	Folic acid is often recommended by doctors to help prevent and treat periodontitis and has been shown to reduce the severity of gingivitis when taken as a mouthwash.
Folic Acid Use 5 ml twice per day of a 0.1% solution Nutritional supplements recommended by some doctors for prevention and treatment of periodontitis include vitamin C (people with periodontitis are often found to be deficient),²² vitamin E, selenium, zinc, coenzyme Q10, and folic acid.²³ Folic acid has also been shown to reduce the severity of gingivitis when taken as a mouthwash.²⁴ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Zinc Chloride	Regularly use a mouthrinse or toothpaste containing zinc	Zinc is able to reduce the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds in the mouth, thus lessening halitosis.
Zinc Chloride Regularly use a mouthrinse or toothpaste containing zinc Preliminary research has also demonstrated the ability of zinc to reduce the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds in the mouth. One study found that the addition of zinc to a baking soda toothpaste lessened halitosis by lowering the levels of these compounds.²⁵ A mouthrinse containing zinc chloride was seen in another study to neutralize the damaging effect of methyl mercaptan on periodontal tissue in the mouth.²⁶ ^{, 27}

Supplement	Amount	Why
Bloodroot	800 IU daily	Volatile oils made from bloodroot have antibacterial properties and may be effective in mouthwash or toothpaste form.
Bloodroot 800 IU daily The potent effects of some commercial mouthwashes may be due to the inclusion of thymol (from thyme) and eukalyptol (from eucalyptus)—volatile oils that have proven activity against bacteria. One report showed bacterial counts plummet in as little as 30 seconds following a mouthrinse with the commercial mouthwash Listerine™, which contains thymol and eukalyptol.²⁸ Thymol alone has been shown in research to inhibit the growth of bacteria found in the mouth.²⁹ ^{, 30} Because of their antibacterial properties, other volatile oils made from tea tree,³¹ clove, caraway, peppermint, and sage,³² as well as the herbs myrrh³³ and bloodroot,³⁴ might be considered in a mouthwash or toothpaste. Due to potential allergic reactions and potential side effects if some of these oils are swallowed, it is best to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before pursuing self-treatment with volatile oils that are not in approved over-the-counter products for halitosis. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Caraway	Refer to label instructions	Volatile oils made from caraway have antibacterial properties and may be effective in mouthwash or toothpaste form.
Caraway The potent effects of some commercial mouthwashes may be due to the inclusion of thymol (from thyme) and eukalyptol (from eucalyptus)—volatile oils that have proven activity against bacteria. One report showed bacterial counts plummet in as little as 30 seconds following a mouthrinse with the commercial mouthwash Listerine™, which contains thymol and eukalyptol.³⁵ Thymol alone has been shown in research to inhibit the growth of bacteria found in the mouth.³⁶ ^{, 37} Because of their antibacterial properties, other volatile oils made from tea tree,³⁸ clove, caraway, peppermint, and sage,³⁹ as well as the herbs myrrh⁴⁰ and bloodroot,⁴¹ might be considered in a mouthwash or toothpaste. Due to potential allergic reactions and potential side effects if some of these oils are swallowed, it is best to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before pursuing self-treatment with volatile oils that are not in approved over-the-counter products for halitosis. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Clove Oil	Use a mouthrinse or toothpaste containing zinc regularly	Volatile oils made from clove have antibacterial properties and may be effective in mouthwash or toothpaste form.
Clove Oil Use a mouthrinse or toothpaste containing zinc regularly The potent effects of some commercial mouthwashes may be due to the inclusion of thymol (from thyme) and eukalyptol (from eucalyptus)—volatile oils that have proven activity against bacteria. One report showed bacterial counts plummet in as little as 30 seconds following a mouthrinse with the commercial mouthwash Listerine™, which contains thymol and eukalyptol.⁴² Thymol alone has been shown in research to inhibit the growth of bacteria found in the mouth.⁴³ ^{, 44} Because of their antibacterial properties, other volatile oils made from tea tree,⁴⁵ clove, caraway, peppermint, and sage,⁴⁶ as well as the herbs myrrh⁴⁷ and bloodroot,⁴⁸ might be considered in a mouthwash or toothpaste. Due to potential allergic reactions and potential side effects if some of these oils are swallowed, it is best to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before pursuing self-treatment with volatile oils that are not in approved over-the-counter products for halitosis.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Eucalyptus	Refer to label instructions	Volatile oils made from eucalyptus have antibacterial properties and may be effective in mouthwash or toothpaste form.
Eucalyptus Caution: Do not use eucalyptus oil internally without supervision by a healthcare professional. As little as 3.5 ml of the oil taken internally has proven fatal. The potent effects of some commercial mouthwashes may be due to the inclusion of thymol (from thyme) and eukalyptol (from eucalyptus)—volatile oils that have proven activity against bacteria. One report showed bacterial counts plummet in as little as 30 seconds following a mouthrinse with the commercial mouthwash Listerine, which contains thymol and eukalyptol.⁴⁹ Thymol alone has been shown in research to inhibit the growth of bacteria found in the mouth.⁵⁰^{, 51} Because of their antibacterial properties, other volatile oils made from tea tree,⁵² clove, caraway, peppermint, and sage,⁵³ as well as the herbs myrrh⁵⁴ and bloodroot,⁵⁵ might be considered in a mouthwash or toothpaste. Due to potential allergic reactions and potential side effects if some of these oils are swallowed, it is best to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before pursuing self-treatment with volatile oils that are not in approved over-the-counter products for halitosis. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Myrrh	Refer to label instructions	Volatile oils made from myrrh have antibacterial properties and may be effective in mouthwash or toothpaste form.
Myrrh The potent effects of some commercial mouthwashes may be due to the inclusion of thymol (from thyme) and eukalyptol (from eucalyptus)—volatile oils that have proven activity against bacteria. One report showed bacterial counts plummet in as little as 30 seconds following a mouthrinse with the commercial mouthwash Listerine™, which contains thymol and eukalyptol.⁵⁶ Thymol alone has been shown in research to inhibit the growth of bacteria found in the mouth.⁵⁷ ^{, 58} Because of their antibacterial properties, other volatile oils made from tea tree,⁵⁹ clove, caraway, peppermint, and sage,⁶⁰ as well as the herbs myrrh⁶¹ and bloodroot,⁶² might be considered in a mouthwash or toothpaste. Due to potential allergic reactions and potential side effects if some of these oils are swallowed, it is best to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before pursuing self-treatment with volatile oils that are not in approved over-the-counter products for halitosis. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Peppermint	0.5 to 8 grams daily	Volatile oils made from peppermint have antibacterial properties and may be effective in mouthwash or toothpaste form.
Peppermint 0.5 to 8 grams daily The potent effects of some commercial mouthwashes may be due to the inclusion of thymol (from thyme) and eukalyptol (from eucalyptus)—volatile oils that have proven activity against bacteria. One report showed bacterial counts plummet in as little as 30 seconds following a mouthrinse with the commercial mouthwash Listerine™, which contains thymol and eukalyptol.⁶³ Thymol alone has been shown in research to inhibit the growth of bacteria found in the mouth.⁶⁴ ^{, 65} Because of their antibacterial properties, other volatile oils made from tea tree,⁶⁶ clove, caraway, peppermint, and sage,⁶⁷ as well as the herbs myrrh⁶⁸ and bloodroot,⁶⁹ might be considered in a mouthwash or toothpaste. Due to potential allergic reactions and potential side effects if some of these oils are swallowed, it is best to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before pursuing self-treatment with volatile oils that are not in approved over-the-counter products for halitosis. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Sage	Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner	Volatile oils made from sage have antibacterial properties and may be effective in mouthwash or toothpaste form.
Sage Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner The potent effects of some commercial mouthwashes may be due to the inclusion of thymol (from thyme) and eukalyptol (from eucalyptus)—volatile oils that have proven activity against bacteria. One report showed bacterial counts plummet in as little as 30 seconds following a mouthrinse with the commercial mouthwash Listerine™, which contains thymol and eukalyptol.⁷⁰ Thymol alone has been shown in research to inhibit the growth of bacteria found in the mouth.⁷¹ ^{, 72} Because of their antibacterial properties, other volatile oils made from tea tree,⁷³ clove, caraway, peppermint, and sage,⁷⁴ as well as the herbs myrrh⁷⁵ and bloodroot,⁷⁶ might be considered in a mouthwash or toothpaste. Due to potential allergic reactions and potential side effects if some of these oils are swallowed, it is best to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before pursuing self-treatment with volatile oils that are not in approved over-the-counter products for halitosis. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Selenium (Gingivitis)	Spray a lotion containing 3.7% citronella in a slow-release formula every morning for six days per week	Selenium is often recommended by doctors to help prevent and treat periodontitis.
Selenium Spray a lotion containing 3.7% citronella in a slow-release formula every morning for six days per week Nutritional supplements recommended by some doctors for prevention and treatment of periodontitis include vitamin C (people with periodontitis are often found to be deficient),⁷⁷ vitamin E, selenium, zinc, coenzyme Q10, and folic acid.⁷⁸ Folic acid has also been shown to reduce the severity of gingivitis when taken as a mouthwash.⁷⁹ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Tea Tree	Refer to label instructions	Volatile oils made from tea tree have antibacterial properties and may be effective in mouthwash or toothpaste form.
Tea Tree The potent effects of some commercial mouthwashes may be due to the inclusion of thymol (from thyme) and eukalyptol (from eucalyptus)—volatile oils that have proven activity against bacteria. One report showed bacterial counts plummet in as little as 30 seconds following a mouthrinse with the commercial mouthwash Listerine™, which contains thymol and eukalyptol.⁸⁰ Thymol alone has been shown in research to inhibit the growth of bacteria found in the mouth.⁸¹ ^{, 82} Because of their antibacterial properties, other volatile oils made from tea tree,⁸³ clove, caraway, peppermint, and sage,⁸⁴ as well as the herbs myrrh⁸⁵ and bloodroot,⁸⁶ might be considered in a mouthwash or toothpaste. Due to potential allergic reactions and potential side effects if some of these oils are swallowed, it is best to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before pursuing self-treatment with volatile oils that are not in approved over-the-counter products for halitosis. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Thyme	Refer to label instructions	Volatile oils made from thyme have antibacterial properties and may be effective in mouthwash or toothpaste form.
Thyme The potent effects of some commercial mouthwashes may be due to the inclusion of thymol (from thyme) and eukalyptol (from eucalyptus)—volatile oils that have proven activity against bacteria. One report showed bacterial counts plummet in as little as 30 seconds following a mouthrinse with the commercial mouthwash Listerine™, which contains thymol and eukalyptol.⁸⁷ Thymol alone has been shown in research to inhibit the growth of bacteria found in the mouth.⁸⁸ ^{, 89} Because of their antibacterial properties, other volatile oils made from tea tree,⁹⁰ clove, caraway, peppermint, and sage,⁹¹ as well as the herbs myrrh⁹² and bloodroot,⁹³ might be considered in a mouthwash or toothpaste. Due to potential allergic reactions and potential side effects if some of these oils are swallowed, it is best to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before pursuing self-treatment with volatile oils that are not in approved over-the-counter products for halitosis. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin C (Gingivitis, Vitamin C Deficiency)	Refer to label instructions	Vitamin C is often recommended by doctors to help prevent and treat periodontitis.
Vitamin C Nutritional supplements recommended by some doctors for prevention and treatment of periodontitis include vitamin C (people with periodontitis are often found to be deficient),⁹⁴ vitamin E, selenium, zinc, coenzyme Q10, and folic acid.⁹⁵ Folic acid has also been shown to reduce the severity of gingivitis when taken as a mouthwash.⁹⁶ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin E (Gingivitis, Vitamin E Deficiency)	Refer to label instructions	Vitamin E is often recommended by doctors to help prevent and treat periodontitis.
Vitamin E Nutritional supplements recommended by some doctors for prevention and treatment of periodontitis include vitamin C (people with periodontitis are often found to be deficient),⁹⁷ vitamin E, selenium, zinc, coenzyme Q10, and folic acid.⁹⁸ Folic acid has also been shown to reduce the severity of gingivitis when taken as a mouthwash.⁹⁹ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

References

Last Review: 05-11-2011

Learn more about Aisle7, the company.

The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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