Say you’ve eaten something with onions or garlic for lunch, and now you’re stuck with bad breath for the rest of the afternoon. It feels like there’s nothing you can do about it, when in reality this may not actually be the case.
Some foods can cause bad breath, but some foods can improve bad breath. It’s all about knowing which foods can neutralise those foods which may cause you bad breath.
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Why Do I Get Bad Breath?
A lot of the causes of bad breath are from not having an established dental routine. It’s important to brush your teeth twice a day, for two minutes a day.
This is the easiest way of fixing bad breath (halitosis). When you skip basic oral hygiene, plaque and food particles stay in your mouth, which can cause bad breath.
Another reason why you could be suffering from bad breath is that you’ve got a dry mouth. Saliva helps to wash away any bacteria, so without this, the bacteria just stays in your mouth.
There are many reasons why you may be suffering from a dry mouth, for example, some medications can have the side effect of a dry mouth.
Also, the kinds of food that you eat can affect how bad your breath smells. Garlic, onion and alcohol are the worst culprits for producing bad odours in your mouth.
Foods That Can Prevent Any Bad Breath Worries:
Bad breath isn’t nice, so if you are worried about suffering from bad breath, if you stick to some of the foods named below, then you shouldn’t have to worry too much about it.
Parsley
We’ll start with a bit of an odd one – parsley. You don’t always want to munch on a piece of parsley, but it’s one of the oldest tricks in the book.
Its oils and high chlorophyll levels are what makes it such a good odour buster. It’s also thought to have antibacterial properties, which is always good when you can’t get to a toothbrush or mouthwash.
Yoghurt
Recent studies have suggested that there is a link between eating yoghurt and minimising bad breath. Yoghurt has naturally occurring probiotics that can help to minimise any foul-smelling odour.
Apples and Pears
Fresh fruits can help with the production of saliva, and this can get rid of bad breath as saliva washes out any bacteria which may otherwise just linger in your mouth.
Crunchy Vegetables
Like fresh fruits, crunchy vegetables also help with the production of saliva. When eaten raw they can be particularly beneficial for your mouth, as they act as a tool to remove bacteria.
Nuts
Almonds in particular are great for curing bad breath as they are extremely high in fibre. Fibre can get rid of bad breath by acting as mini toothbrushes as they clear bacteria from your mouth as you chew on them.
Nuts can also help with getting rid of the staining on teeth as they remove any stain inducing bacterias.
Berries, Oranges and Melons
Melon and berries may seem like a strange combination, however, both of these fruits have one thing in common – they’re high in vitamin C.
Vitamin C will help to work against gum disease and gingivitis, both of which can also be the cause of bad breath.
Not only this, but vitamin C will actually stop the growth of any bacteria in your mouth, which will also help to minimise bad breath.
Can Food Really Help My Bad Breath Problems?
If you’re suffering from chronic bad breath, then eating these foods may be beneficial for you, but they won’t cure you completely. It’s best to talk to your local dentist if this is the case.
However, if you’ve recently eaten onion or garlic and you want a temporary solution for bad breath, then these foods can definitely help with fixing the problem.
Bad breath can be embarrassing and it can make you self-conscious, so it’s best to fix it when you can. Whether that be by brushing your teeth, taking mouthwash on the go with you, or by sticking to the foods on this list.
