Before we start, nothing can substitute good oral hygiene. You know the routine; brush twice a day, floss daily and never skip your six-month dental cleaning with your favorite Hoffman Estates IL dentist. Might sound boring, but maintaining good oral care will help ensure your teeth last a lifetime and help your co-worker from fleeing every time you need to talk to them! No one likes to have bad breath and no likes to be stuck in a conversation with someone that has bad breath. Unenjoyable for both parties. So outside of good hygiene, what foods naturally help combat halitosis?
Strawberries
Strawberries work double duty for bad breath. Bad breath can come from a dehydrated or dry mouth. Being high in water content, eating strawberries will give you a dose of hydration and help get saliva flowing. Strawberries are also exceptionally high in vitamin C. Odor causing bacteria have a very hard time surviving in a vitamin C rich environment. Additional fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C are broccoli, oranges and acerola cherries.
Parsley
The polyphenols in parsley can help break down the stinky sulfur in our mouths. Are you craving garlic? Pair your garlic dish with parsley (basil is good too). Parsley and anything containing chlorophyll can help serve as a natural deodorizer to the lingering garlic breath.
Green Tea
Sometimes we’d rather sip on something than eat. Just as parsley is, green tea is high in polyphenols which help fight the growth of bacteria. The negative to green tea is that it can cause discoloration of your teeth. You can take green tea as a supplement, rinse with water after sipping or sip through a straw if this is of concern.
Ginger
Ginger is given regularly with sushi and other Asians foods as a way to cleanse our palates. It’s great for detoxifying and cleaning our systems out. Ginger also helps neutralize the bacteria in our mouth that causes our bad breath. Enjoy ginger in tea, smoothies, grounded up or in oil form.
Bad breath mostly comes from the bacteria in our mouth. By eating odor neutralizing foods that combat the growth of bacteria we can help keep bad breath at bay. Also, all items listed above are packed with nutrients that are great for skin, oral and overall health. Reach out to Forest Edge Dental for your spring dental cleaning and more tips on keeping your breath fresh!