It’s a common misconception that certain foods can give you prolonged bad breath. While it’s true that strong tasting foods can make your breath unpleasant, it’s only temporary and there are many simple solutions to this problem. If you suffer from chronic halitosis, however, there are foods you can incorporate into your diet that will actually help diminish your bad breath, many of which will also support your overall health. Here are a few foods that help keep halitosis at bay:
Fruit
Fruit is not only healthy for you in general, but it may help to ward off bad breath. Apples are great for getting saliva flowing and the texture naturally rids your teeth of plaque. Citrusy fruits, such as lemons and oranges, work especially well for their saliva inducing properties. They also have high vitamin C content, which helps keep gums healthy by fighting gum disease and gingivitis.
Veggies
Carrots, celery, green beans, and other crunchy vegetables work similarly to apples by promoting saliva production and washing away bacteria and other debris that is sticking to your gums and teeth.
Herbs and Spices
Ditch the Big Red and go the natural route with some cinnamon. Cinnamon is a great way to conceal bad breath through both its potent fragrance and its bacteria killing properties. Parsley has also been used for years to mask bad breath. The oils in parsley help to give your breath a pleasant fragrance that will ward off some of the mouth odors that can result from certain foods you may eat.
Tea
While you want to avoid getting too much caffeine in your diet, drinking tea will help cleanse your mouth of bad breath causing bacteria.
Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts are rich in vitamins that support healthy gums and fight bad bacteria. Their texture is also helpful in loosening plaque and cleansing your mouth.
Mint
While not as natural as our other suggestions, mints are always an option for a quick fix to bad breath. BreathGemz are a favorite among our patients.
Water
Last, but certainly not least, is staying hydrated. Drinking water regularly will help cleanse your mouth and keep you hydrated by promoting saliva production that washes away bacteria and improves your breath.
About the author: Dr. Anthony Dailley is a practicing dentist that specializes in halitosis treatment. He has been practicing since 1981 and graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Cell & Molecular Biology, and obtained his dental degree from the Pacific School of Dentistry. Dr. Dailley founded the Center for Breath Treatment in the San Francisco Bay Area and conducts research on curing halitosis. Dr. Dailley has also been a founder in a biotech company called NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and on their board of directors from 1997 -2014.