Eating these foods can cause bad breath
07/01/2020 / By Joanne Washburn / Comments
Eating these foods can cause bad breath

Bad breath might not be a matter of life and death, but it can be quite bothersome and embarrassing.

There are a lot of potential culprits behind bad breath, from nicotine to gum disease. But in most cases, it can be traced back to the foods on our plate.

Not eating onions or garlic as of late? You might be surprised to find out that other less pungent foods can cause bad breath just as much as pungent ones do.

Surprising foods that can cause bad breath

Here are eight foods that might be behind that bad breath (besides onions and garlic). Try to limit eating them as much as possible, and rinse your mouth right after.

Citrus fruits

There’s nothing like nibbling on fresh orange slices after a meal, but studies found that the natural acids in citrus fruits might be encouraging odor-causing bacteria to stick around. That said, this doesn’t mean citrus fruits are bad. Just be mindful of the amount you consume per sitting.

Protein

High-protein diets can, in fact, cause bad breath, according to nutritionists. This is because bacteria in the mouth produce ammonia as they feed off the protein from foods. The result? Bad breath.

Therefore, if eating a protein-rich meal, it’s important to be mindful of portions. You can also drink a glass of green tea or nibble on spinach for dessert to reduce bad breath and control odor-causing bacteria.

Canned fish

You might need to lay off on canned tuna for your desk lunch as it has the potential to cause bad breath. Storing fish in cans promotes oxidation, a process that ends up producing that characteristic fishy smell of canned fish.

To combat that unpleasant smell, consider popping sugar-free gum after eating. This helps clean up those pungent odors in the mouth, and it can also get rid of stuck food bits that might also cause bad breath later on.

Cheese

Cheese might be good for our bones. But as it turns out, it’s not that great for our breath. Amino acids found in milk, cheese and other similar products are a feast for odor-causing bacteria in the mouth that promote bad breath. If eating cheese, remember to wash it down with a glass of water afterward.

Pasta sauce

Tomato-based pasta sauces can be just as acidic as citrus fruits. These acids promote the spread of bacteria in the mouth, leading to bad breath. To keep from smelling bad in the middle of date night, take small sips of water during the meal.

It’s also a good idea to skip the red wine, as this can create a film on top of the teeth and give odor-causing bacteria a foothold.

Peanut butter

The rich and thick texture of peanut butter makes it a lot more difficult for saliva to break down. In fact, peanut butter residue can linger in the mouth for hours even after brushing. This makes it a target for bacteria that feast on proteins.

So the next time you snack on a PB&J, brush your teeth thoroughly after eating. If that’s not possible, simply drinking more water should help keep tooth surfaces free of peanut butter stains.

Horseradish

Horseradish contains isothiocyanate, a putrid, organic compound meant to deter pests and animals from eating the root. But in your case, you’d be deterring friends and colleagues.

Your best defense against this foul chemical is to nibble on mints or drink mint tea after eating horseradish.

Coffee

Coffee smells great. That is, until it hits your mouth. Once it does, the acids and natural enzymes from the coffee beans dry the mouth. This opens the floodgates for foul-smelling bacteria to linger for longer periods in the mouth and cause bad breath later on. That said, the solution to this is simple: Just stay hydrated with water.

Food is the number one culprit behind bad breath, and it’s not just the usual offenders like garlic, onion or beer. Try to limit eating the foods on this list if there’s an important errand you need to attend to. You can also nibble on foods that mask bad breath after a meal.

Sources:

CookingLight.com

LiveScience.com

100% Fresh Food News, Right at Your Fingertips!
Find out everything you need to know about clean and healthy eating when you sign up for our FREE email newsletter. Receive the latest news on all the top superfoods, recipes, natural remedies, diets, food tips, and more!
Your privacy is protected. Subscription confirmation required.

Related Articles
Comments
comments powered by Disqus

100% Fresh Food News, Right at Your Fingertips!
Find out everything you need to know about clean and healthy eating when you sign up for our FREE email newsletter. Receive the latest news on all the top superfoods, recipes, natural remedies, diets, food tips, and more!
Your privacy is protected. Subscription confirmation required.

Popular articles