Table of contents:
- Food and drink that usually causes bad breath
- 1. Garlic and onions
- 2. Coffee and alcohol
- Foods and drinks that can get rid of bad breath
- 1. Cheese and yogurt
- 2. Water
- 3. Sugar free gum
- 4. Foods rich in vitamin C
- 5. Apples
- 6. Green tea
Have a problem with bad breath even though you are diligently brushing your teeth? This means that your bad breath can arise because of the food or drink you consume. Certain foods and drinks can "pollute" your breath for several hours, causing your mouth to smell bad and irritate others. But, there are also a number of foods that can be a solution to get rid of bad breath.
Food and drink that usually causes bad breath
As quoted WebMD , there are several foods and drinks that cause bad breath, namely:
1. Garlic and onions
Lisa Harper Mallonee, MPH, RD, professor at Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry, says the two food ingredients top the list of causes of bad breath or halitosis.
"This is because the sulfur compounds in the two onions still remain in your mouth and are absorbed into the bloodstream, then expelled when you exhale," said Lisa.
2. Coffee and alcohol
When you drink coffee and alcohol, you create a good environment for the growth of bacteria in your mouth. Coffee and alcohol can also dry out the mouth by reducing the flow of saliva and making odor-causing bacteria stay longer.
Foods and drinks that can get rid of bad breath
To get rid of bad breath, you don't just have to reduce or avoid foods and drinks that cause your mouth to smell. There are several foods and drinks that you can consume to get rid of and prevent bad smells in your mouth. Anything?
1. Cheese and yogurt
Julie Linzel, a dental hygienist in Charlottetown, Canada told besthealthmag.ca , You can eat a slice of cheese after eating to neutralize some of the food acids that can remain on your teeth and make your mouth smell.
Linzel added, yogurt without sugar can also help. A small Japanese study found that people whose mouths smell less bad after eating yogurt twice a day. This is because yogurt reduces levels of hydrogen sulfide, a compound that can cause bad breath.
2. Water
A spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Amy Jamieson-Petonic told Huffingtonpost , regular hydration can make your breath smell better. This is because plain water moisturizes the mouth and throat and clears the bacteria that cause bad breath and food debris.
Drinking water can increase the production of saliva, which acts constantly as a cleaning agent and removes odor-causing substances in food and beverages.
3. Sugar free gum
Snacks that increase the flow of saliva in your mouth, such as sugar-free gum, will reduce bad breath. Linzel said, the taste of mint can cover up bad odors in the mouth. Unlike cinnamon, it can stop the smell at the source of the smell.
4. Foods rich in vitamin C
Eating foods rich in vitamin C, such as red peppers and broccoli, is one way to get rid of bad breath. Vitamin C makes the environment uncomfortable for bad breath-causing bacteria. When eaten raw, they are even more potent against the bacteria that make your mouth smell. Because they are crunchier and can cause abrasion, they can remove food debris that is still stuck or hiding in your teeth.
5. Apples
Crispy fruit like apples, which are also high in fiber are a practical way to get rid of bad breath. Chewing apples can make your mouth produce more saliva. Apples can help reduce plaque and food waste on your teeth, which are usually the source of the bacteria that cause your mouth to smell.
6. Green tea
Flavonoids are good antioxidants for you. It is found in vegetables and green tea. Amy said green tea is very useful for expelling odor-causing sulfur compounds and bacteria in your mouth, making it effective in eliminating bad breath.
