Bad breath, also called halitosis, is an oral health problem attributable to a variety of factors. While a dry mouth, tobacco use, a chronic health condition or a respiratory infection may lead to halitosis, certain foods may also cause bad breath. Eliminating these foods from your diet or cutting back prior to a special occasion may help you prevent this potentially embarrassing problem. Visit a health-care professional if dietary measures fail to improve your breath odor, as foul-smelling breath is sometimes due to a serious medical condition.
Avoid Certain Foods
Onions and garlic are notorious for causing bad breath. These sulfer-containing foods can be odorous immediately upon consumption, but they can also be absorbed into the bloodstream, ending up in the lungs. After reaching the lungs, the compounds are expelled via the breath, causing halitosis, explains the Ohio State University Medical Center. Other sulfur-containing foods, such as cabbage and Brussels sprouts, can also cause this condition. To reduce this type of halitosis, brush your teeth after eating these foods or avoid eating them for a couple of days prior to an event in which you will need fresh breath.
Brush Teeth After Eating Meat
Small pieces of meat and other foods in the teeth or mouth that begin to rot can cause bad breath. This problem is worsened if bacteria begin to eat the bits of food, putting off their own odor. Brushing the teeth, gums, inner cheeks and tongue twice a day and flossing daily can correct hygiene-related halitosis. Have a dentist examine your teeth once a year and professionally clean them twice a year.
Avoid Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can cause halitosis, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Chronic alcoholism can also turn breath foul-smelling. You can prevent this by avoiding or limiting alcohol use.
Avoid Spices That Trigger Halitosis
Some spices and spicy foods can cause halitosis. This happens after the spices are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the lungs. Foul breath can last for a couple of days, until the spices are fully eliminated from the body. Not all spices have the same effect on breath; by paying careful attention, you can figure out which ones cause bad breath for you and eliminate or reduce them in your diet.
Brush Teeth After Drinking Coffee
Coffee contains sulfur, which leads to both immediate bad breath and delayed halitosis due to the sulfur compounds transferring to the lungs. Brushing your teeth after drinking coffee can aid in the prevention of bad breath.
