Best Foods for Fresh Breath

Bad breath or halitosis is embarrassing and can cause anxiety in individuals. Either it is going outside for dinner or a corporate meeting, bad breath can be a hindrance. We often try out mints, chewing gums, mouthwashes among others to alleviate the problem. Onion and garlic are the leading and common causes of halitosis among others. Essentially, food ingredients like onion and garlic contain pungent oils that flow through the bloodstream to the lungs. Once you breathe, the pungent leftover is exhaled thus giving you a bad breath. Yet, there is nothing to worry about if you include the best foods to eat for fresh breath in your diet. In the article, we will talk about the best foods for fresh breath and the foods to avoid for fresh breath.

Natural food like fresh fruits and vegetables including carrots, apples, and pears produce saliva which washes out the odor-producing bacteria in the mouth. Being fiber-rich, they effectively act as natural toothbrushes while eating it. A study published in the Journal of Food Science revealed that apples prevent the bad-breath odors caused by the consumption of raw garlic.

Cherries

Scientific studies have revealed that cherries eliminate the odor of methyl mercaptan. It is a bad-breath-causing gas found naturally in foods like cheeses and onions. Also, lettuce has the same effect which makes it important to include in the salad diet.

Parsley and Basil

Both the herbs contain a natural chemical named polyphenols which are regarded as a bad-breath reliever.

Ginger

Ginger is one of the best foods to eat for fresh breath. It contains a compound called 6-gingerol which stimulates an enzyme present in our saliva. The naturally occurring compound breaks down sulfur compounds in our mouths. For better protective care against bad breath, one can try a combination of pressed ginger, lemon juice, and warm water. Rinse your mouth with the combination and your mouth will be as fresh as before.

Water

Apart from keeping you naturally hydrated, you will wash away food particles and dead cells. Water can keep your mouth safe from bad breath-causing bacteria.

Citrus and Melons

Vitamin C-rich foods like Citrus fruits, melons are the best foods to eat for fresh breath.

Foods to Avoid for Fresh Breath

There are certain foods culpable for bad breath or halitosis. Here are some of the food to exclude:

Coffee and Alcohol.

Coffee and alcoholic drinks create a breeding ground in the mouth for oral bacterial growth. They also cause dryness in the mouth leading to reduced saliva flow while allowing bad-odor-causing bacteria to thrive.

Canned Tuna

Seafood naturally becomes sour-smelling over a period of time due to the oxidizing process. It becomes worse due to the tuna being stored in a dark, metallic can.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is protein-rich but there is the problem where saliva fails to break down the paste in your mouth. Due to its sticky nature, peanut butter will stay in the mouth lodged between teeth and gums for hours. So after eating, it’s advisable to use a dentist-prescribed oral rinse. This will eliminate lodged food particles while reducing bacteria, and fresh breathing at one time.

Book a Free Dental Consultation Today in Illinois!

In case, you are missing teeth or have questions regarding oral health, do book a free dental consultation here! You can also call us at 800-250-3500! One should practice good oral hygiene like brushing and flossing on a daily basis while eating the best foods for fresh breath.