We all know that there are certain foods like garlic and onions that can cause bad breath. Did you know that there are also foods that can help eliminate bad breath – at least temporarily?
How does this work?
An onion contains strong oils that when ingested, are carried through your bloodstream and into your lungs. Their odours are then exhaled as you breathe. Fortunately, there are some foods that can help eliminate these odours, albeit only for an hour or two, until you properly clean your mouth and teeth and eliminate the potentially harmful, odour-causing bacteria that has been left behind from your last meal. Here are some of these foods that can temporarily help mask bad breath:
Oil-rich herbs
Just as that nasty onion’s oils travel through your bloodstream, so do the more pleasant smelling oils of parsley, spearmint, cinnamon, coriander or cilantro.
Sugar-free chewing gum
If you don’t have access to real cinnamon or have fresh parsely growing nearby, grab some mint or cinnamon sugarless candies or gum which can help in two ways. Not only will they get those beneficial oils into your system, but they also stimulate saliva production which in turns helps eliminate foul-smelling mouth bacteria.
Drink water
Water is good for your whole body, and your mouth and breath are no exception. Water will help rinse away harmful oral bacteria and flush your system of malodorous oils much faster.
Probiotic yogurt
Some studies have demonstrated that the active cultures in yogurt can help minimize bad breath as the good bacteria overpowers the bad.
Vitamin C-rich foods
Berries, citrus and melons are all quite proficient at slowing down bacterial growth in the mouth.
Crunchy foods and vegetables
Carrots, apples and celery are like mother nature’s toothbrush and work very well to cleanse the mouth of odour-causing food particles until you are able to do a more thorough job with brushing and flossing later on.
But please don’t forget…
All of these foods I’ve listed are only temporary solutions; the way to keep your mouth odour free in the long term is to brush and floss regularly and to visit your dental office for checkups and cleanings on a regular basis at intervals recommended by your dental professional that are right for you.
Bad breath can be a sign of a more serious problem than those onion rings you had for lunch. Mouth odour can be caused by gum disease, plaque build-up on the teeth, cavities, and yeast infections in the mouth, to name only a handful of possibilities. A medical condition called xerostomia, or “dry mouth” can also cause bad breath and is often associated with taking certain medications, salivary gland problems or excessive mouth breathing. Many other medical diseases and conditions including diabetes and acid reflux, are often associated with bad breath as well.
So, if you have noticed that your breath has been off for more than a few days, do not rely on these quick fixes. Speak with your dentist and doctor who can help you get to the root of the problem.
Steven Deskin is a Dentist in general practice.
