No one likes bad breath. Odorous breath can have disastrous effects on our interactions with others. There may be times when you don’t even realize you that are affected by plague of bad breath, but we all deal with it at some point. You probably know that there are foods that cause bad breath—garlic, onion, fish, etc. But did you know that there are foods that can help keep stinky breath at bay? Most bad breath comes from bad bacteria that can grow in your mouth. Certain foods fight that bacteria and wash away the bad odors, leaving you feeling a little fresher and your breath smelling a little better.
1. Parsley
Because parsley contains chlorophyll, it has a deodorizing effect in your mouth. Adding parsley to your meals will benefit you as parsley’s odor-neutralizing properties keep the bad breath at bay.
2. Basil
The polyphenols found in this herb breaks down the sulfur compounds in your mouth like an antioxidant. If you want to eat something that may lead to smelly breath, try adding some basil to neutralize the effects.
3. Green Tea
This beverage contains catechin and high amounts of polyphenols—both of which are antioxidants that fight the growth of bacteria and help to reduce sulfur compounds that lead to bad breath.
4. Probiotic Yogurt
Yogurt’s probiotic bacteria can help to reduce odor-causing sulfide compounds in your mouth. You’re essentially getting rid of bad bacteria and replacing it with good bacteria, which leads to better breath.
5. Melons
There is a surprising amount of vitamin C in melons. Bacteria can’t thrive in an environment with high vitamin C levels. Plus, the water in melons can help to wash out bacteria and odorous breath.
6. Crisp Fruits and Veggies
The benefits of eating your fruits and vegetables daily affect your oral health too and even your breath! One of the best fighters of bad breath is salvia. When you eat fresh and crispy fruits and veggies, your mouth produces more salvia and washes out bad bacteria and bad odors that cause foul smelling breath.
7. Cherries
Eating cherries can help to remove the smell of methyl mercaptan—another one of those pesky bad breath causing odors.
8. Citrus
The high quantities of vitamin C in citrus, it can also act as a bacteria killer. Vitamin C can act as a natural way to keep a cleaner mouth. Keep the bacteria at bay with some citrus—and as an added bonus vitamin C fights gingivitis too!
9. Ginger
Ginger is commonly used to treat an upset stomach, but the benefits don’t stop there! Try a ginger and lemon tea for a natural and delicious breath neutralizer.
10. Lettuce
Similarly, to cherries, lettuce can reduce the odor of methyl mercaptan. This common bad breath culprit comes from a bacteria that grows in your mouth, but the foul smell it produces can be lessened by chewing on some lettuce.
