NUTRITION: 5 Foods That Fight Bad Breath

Bad Breath (aka Halitosis)
Sure, that fried tuna fish sandwich with garlic and onion might have tasted good at lunch, but your post-lunch associates are not enjoying the cornucopia of smells you produce with every word you speak. Fortunately, there are some super foods that can help get rid of bad breath.

Five Foods That Get Rid of Bad Breath:

1. Herbs such as Parsley, Mint, Tarragon, and Basil. Usually, parsley is included as a garnish on dishes at many restaurants. There are plenty of other herbs that can work as well. Dr. Christine Gerbstadt a national media spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association recommends using coriander, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary and cardamom. Basically, you should aim to find any herb with a strong pleasant smell that can mask your really bad breath

2. Green Tea. In a recent study trying to find foods that reduce bad breath, the researchers concluded that “green tea was very effective in reducing oral malodor temporarily because of its disinfectant and deodorant activities.” In fact, the study found that many other foods used to get rid of bad breath simply covered up the bad smell.

3. Lemons can reduce bad breath. They have such a strong, pleasant odor that they are able to mask your bad breath. Lemons are easy to come across in restaurants — you can simply order a water with a lemon wedge. Squeezing the lemon in your water may be the safest way to use the lemon to mask bad breath because the strong acid lemons contain can slowly eat away at your enamel.

4. Sugar Free Mints and Candy will be able to mask bad breath by increasing your saliva production. That extra saliva running through your mouth will be able to remove bad breath-causing substances from your teeth.

5. Crisp Fruits and Vegetables such as apples, celery, and carrots are great at stimulating the flow of your saliva also. This will help wash away offending substances that cling to your teeth. Also, the rough, fibrous texture of fruits and vegetables can also have a cleaning action on your teeth.

Self-treatment
Brushing teeth and tongue after eating, flossing at least once a day and replacing toothbrushes regularly may improve bad breath. Avoiding foods known to cause bad breath, such as onions and garlic, may also help.