Oral care2 min
Fennel and Clove After Meals
Chew a few fennel seeds and one clove after a meal, then spit out the woody bits. It is a spice-box habit for the mouth, not a dental treatment.
Fennel and one clove after a meal
Fennel and clove already sit on many dinner tables. Chewing them after food leaves a fragrant mouth for a short while. One clove is enough. A handful of cloves is harsh on the tongue and the stomach.
This chew does not remove plaque and does not replace a brush. If the mouth smells bad along with pain, or a tooth has a hole, see a dentist. Do not give whole cloves to small children to chew.
Ingredients
- Half a teaspoon of fennel seeds
- 1 clove
- A few more fennel seeds only if the first pinch was tiny
How to prepare
- Set the fennel seeds and one clove together in a small dry bowl.
- Nothing is boiled. The spices are chewed as they are.
How to use
- After a meal, chew the fennel and the single clove slowly.
- Spit out hard woody bits instead of swallowing a wad of fibre.
- Use one clove only, once after a meal, not several through the evening.
Helpful habits
- A slightly cracked clove releases aroma sooner, so you chew less.
- If the clove taste feels sharp, rinse with plain water and spit the water out.
Precautions
- Do not swallow many cloves. One is the limit here.
- Stop if the mouth burns or the clove scratches the gum.
- This is not a treatment for bad breath from a dental infection.
Frequently asked questions
How many cloves should I chew?
- One clove with a few fennel seeds after a meal. A handful is too many.
Does this chew replace brushing?
- No. It is a short after-meal habit. Brushing still matters, and it is not a dental treatment.
Should children chew a whole clove?
- No. Do not give whole cloves to small children.
