Changing Your Diet Could Mean Fresher Breath

Bad breath is usually caused by certain foods we eat and the breakdown of food particles in our mouths by bacteria. Everyone has experienced the embarrassment of a bad breath moment. We may ask to "cut the onions" just to save face later and not have to deal with onion breath. Some foods like cabbage and garlic have a high sulfuric compound content which in turn cause halitosis. Bad breath is notoriously caused by certain foods - for instance, garlic, onions and some fish - and by diets rich in fat and meat. When these foods are digested, the smelly metabolites pass to the lungs where they are exhaled. In one study, even rubbing garlic on the feet led to bad breath! Missing meals, hunger fasting, starvation and low-calorie diets can also cause malodorous "hunger breath," as the breakdown products of body proteins used for energy are exhaled.

Management of bad breath includes attention to diet, avoiding anything known to cause the malodour. "Hunger breath" is avoided by eating regularly. Anything that promotes saliva flow, chewing and tongue action can reduce mouth malodour (even if it's only gum or parsley). Strategies may include eating oranges or other citrus (acidic) fruits, chewing fibrous vegetables (such as celery), sucking lemon drops or chewing sugarless gum. One dentists notes that "rinsing with lots of tap water may not be helpful as it washes away the protective saliva and may worsen rather than diminish the odour." Medications that are mouth-drying (such as antihistamines, antidepressants, anticoagulants) might be replaced with other, less drying forms. Persistent bad breath may require the attention of a periodontist, otolaryngologist, halitosis expert or other specialist.