You are what you eat, and the popular saying applies to your breath as well. Although good oral hygiene (brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing regularly) is essential for fresh breath, some foods can also have a deodorizing effect.
Here are six foods that help with bad breath, so you can finally get rid of those bad mouth odors, without the need for mouthwash.
Foods that improve bad breath
Apples
An apple a day can prevent bad breath. Because apples are crisp, they help dislodge bacteria and other foods that get stuck between your teeth or on chewing surfaces.
They also contain antioxidants called polyphenols that can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and reduce the production of compounds that cause bad breath.
Leafy vegetables
To keep stinky breath at bay, you may want to make a salad with a mix of different vegetables. Green leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and kale contain chlorophyll , a natural deodorizer that neutralizes odors.
Leafy greens also help balance pH levels, keeping your mouth less acidic. A more acidic environment will cause dry mouth and bad breath.
Additionally, cabbage, spinach, kale, bok choy, okra, and chard are among the 20 richest vegetables in calcium, which helps strengthen tooth enamel.
Parsley, basil and mint
There’s a scientific reason why parsley, basil, and mint leave your mouth feeling fresh: They have enzymes that bind to sulfur-containing compounds and help neutralize the odor.
In addition, like apples, these herbs have polyphenols that, as we know, make it difficult for bad bacteria to grow.
Ginger
Although ginger is best known as a natural remedy for an upset stomach, it can also combat bad breath. Compound G ingerol-6 stimulates the enzymes in our saliva that break down smelly sulfur-containing compounds.
Probiotic yogurt
You’ve probably heard that probiotics (beneficial bacteria) have a number of health benefits (including a happy gut). Now you can also add the breath enhancement to it.
In addition to being a stellar source of enamel-enhancing calcium, probiotic yogurt contains bacteria that help fight other bacteria in your mouth that cause bad breath. Just be sure to choose a low-sugar yogurt, as bacteria like to feast on sugar.
Fennel seeds
Fennel seeds have been used in India for generations as a way to fight bad breath. In fact, chewing on these licorice-flavored seeds can increase saliva production and help flush bad breath-inducing bacteria from your mouth.
You can take advantage of the benefits of fennel seeds for bad breath by crushing the seeds and steeping them to make tea or sprinkling them in homemade bread dough or on top of salads.
