What foods can help improve or worsen bad breath?
Got bad breath? Your diet might be to blame. Even if you brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, and clean your tongue, certain foods can still cause bad breath. Here's a list of foods that can worsen or improve bad breath: **Foods that worsen bad breath:** 1. **Garlic and onions:** These contain sulfur compounds that linger in your mouth and bloodstream, causing bad breath. 2. **Coffee and alcohol:** These create a favorable environment for bacteria and dry out your mouth, reducing saliva flow. 3. **Dairy products, meat, orange juice, and soda:** These are sometimes linked to bad breath, although scientific evidence is limited. **Foods that improve bad breath:** 1. **Water:** Drinking water helps flush out food particles and promotes saliva production, which cleanses your mouth. 2. **Sugarless gum:** Chewing gum, especially with xylitol, helps remove food particles and dead cells while promoting saliva production. 3. **Fruits and vegetables:** Foods rich in vitamin C, like red bell pepper and broccoli, create an inhospitable environment for bacteria. Crunchy produce helps remove trapped food particles. 4. **Yogurt:** Eating sugar-free yogurt with probiotics can reduce bad breath by lowering odor-causing sulfide compounds. 5. **Herbs and spices:** Parsley, cloves, anise, and fennel seeds may help freshen breath. Remember, the most common cause of bad breath is bacteria in your mouth. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, and clean your tongue. If bad breath persists, consult a doctor or dentist, as it could be a sign of an underlying health condition.