Maybe you should have avoided having those raw onions with your meal, because now you’re facing with bad breath. Many people find it difficult to hide what they last ate as certain foods do cause bad breath. Onions and garlic are probably the most common and most well-known instigators of bad breath, or halitosis, but there are others too.
Foods with a strong smell such as onions and garlic is high in sulfuric acid. The oil secreted from onions are carried through your bloodstream into your lungs. So, when you breathe out the pungent odour is exhaled too.
Fortunately, just as eating certain foods can cause your breath to be unpleasant, there are foods that help mask bad breath. However, they have temporary results. The following foods could provide relief for an hour or two, until you are able to attack the underlying cause — odour-producing bacteria in your mouth.
- Fennel seeds. Fennel seeds (sauf) is probably one of the oldest and well-known herb to
treat bad breath. Its oils are what do the trick. Likewise, spearmint and cinnamon can help mask bad breath. Some other herbs and spices that work for the same reason are coriander or cilantro, eucalyptus, rosemary, and cardamom.
- Green tea. Not to mention green tea has myriad of health benefits — preventing tooth decay, aiding in digestion as well as mental alertness.Green tea contains catechin, a powerful antioxidant that can fend off bacteria — remember, bacteria causes the unwanted odour.
- Yogurt. Some studies have shown that the live active cultures in yogurt help reduce bad breath. If the yogurt has probiotics (good bacteria), it can improve digestion and overpower the bad and foul-smelling bacteria.
- Apples and pears. Fruits help with the production of saliva, which is essential to nourishing and rebalancing the natural oral ecology of the mouth.
- Oranges, melons, and lime water. These fruits in particular are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C not only is helpful for keeping bacteria in check, but also helps combat gum diseases and gingivitis, which also can cause bad breath.
- Carrots, and cucumbers. These crunchy munchies encourage the production of saliva, the bacteria rinse agent.
- Salads, almonds and nuts. They work like fruits and vegetables.
The fiber-rich content of fruits, vegetables, and nuts also acts like ‘tiny toothbrushes’ on teeth and has been shown to keep odor-causing bacteria from staining teeth.
- Drink water. Keep your mouth moist. Water rinses out your mouth, and it’s generally good for your system.
- Chew sugarless gum. It not only masks the odour but also promotes the production of saliva, which helps rinse your mouth of harmful plaque and bacteria.
- Pop some breath mints. Like eating sprigs of parsley or other herbs, sucking on breath mints will mask the odour for at least a little while.
- Mouthwash: Keep pocket mouthwash to rinse after every meal.
