Every now and again, we are all a little guilty of falling over the fence onto the somewhat socially unacceptable side of life. But when it comes to the kinds of things that qualify under exactly such a heading, there are few that come even remotely close to bad breath.
The simple fact of the matter is that absolutely everybody hates bad breath. If you find yourself face to face with an individual with breath issues, it can be problematic to say the least. But if it happens to be you yourself who is plagued by bad breath, it has the potential to have a detrimental impact on quite literally every element of your life. Contrary to popular belief, it is estimated that up to around 30% of people live with bad breath to one extent or another. And while it’s safe to say that the best electric toothbrush on the market can certainly help, it often feels as though nothing you try makes any difference.
The good news, however, is that there are in fact several simple lifestyle changes that can be made, which when combined have the potential to make a real difference to bad breath. Along with paying closer attention to oral hygiene practices, much of it comes down to what you eat. It’s always worth speaking to a doctor to investigate the possibility of underlying medical conditions, but in the vast majority of instances bad breath is not indicative of a particularly serious health problem.
So rather than despairing a moment longer and praying in vain for a miracle solution, try instead upping your intake of the following foods that have been proven to help combat bad breath:
Fennel Seeds
First of all, millions of people in India routinely chew fennel seeds and cardamom pods as a means by which to both aid digestion and control bad breath. Both such products have an intensive and effective odour neutralising effect, which works both in the mouth and after they had been swallowed. Not only this, but the chewing action helps release more saliva into the mouth, which can be the single most effective preventative measure against bad breath. What’s more, the oil contained in fennel seeds is known for its antibacterial properties, which in turn gives germs and bacteria in the mouth a run for their money. And of course, the fact the fennel seeds are extremely affordable serves as an added bonus.
Green Tea
Along with investing in the very best mouthwash for bad breath, you might also want to think about increasing your intake of green tea. It’s been known for many years now that green tea possesses a wide variety of beneficial properties – one of which being the way in which it can fight bacteria growth due to its high concentration of antioxidants. It is often argued that green tea has the potential to stain teeth, but this can be avoided by investing in green tea extracts which are readily available these days in pill form.
Apples
One of the very best of all Mother Nature’s products when it comes to giving your teeth an active clean and at the same time delivering a dose of good stuff to your body in general, apples really are quite wonderful. Simply biting into an apple pushes plaque, debris and general nastiness away from your teeth, while at the same time triggering the production of plenty of additional saliva to help keep the mouth clean and healthy.
Leafy Green Vegetables
As far as most experts are concerned, any food that is generally healthy for your body in general will also be healthy for your teeth, gums and mouth in general. Perfect examples in this instance would be kale, lettuce, spinach, cabbage and other leafy green vegetables, which along with helping the body maintain the ideal pH balance contain a heavy dose of chlorophyll, which a little like fennel seeds is a natural deodorant for the body.
Probiotic Yogurt
There are two reasons why probiotic yogurt should be consumed regularly by those looking to fight bad breath. First of all, probiotic yogurt is extremely rich in vitamin D, which is known to be an extremely powerful weapon against harmful bacteria of the mouth. Secondly, sulfite compounds in the body which are responsible for a great many unpleasant odours can be actively reduced and brought under control by the live cultures probiotic yogurt contains. And of course, we probably don’t need to tell you why the calcium they are loaded with also happens to be rather beneficial!
Water
Above and beyond almost everything else, water is perhaps the most important weapon at your disposal when it comes to fighting bad breath. The reason being that odour-causing bacteria thrive in a dry mouth – the dryer you are, the more likely you are to have bad breath. In addition, water is essential for encouraging the production of saliva, which once again is your body’s primary weapon against bacteria, bad breath and oral nasties in general.
Parsley and Basil
If you have never taken the opportunity to chew on a bunch of freshly picked parsley leaves, you are long overdue a treat. The same can also be said for basil, though admittedly basil leaves can be slightly overpowering with regard to the strength of their flavour. In both cases however, adding parsley or basil to salads, drinks or simply eating them on their own can be highly effective against bad breath thanks to their heavy concentration of chlorophyll.
Strawberries
Well, as if you really needed any more excuse to head out and treat yourself to a bowl of strawberries! First of all, strawberries can be hugely effective in preventing your mouth from becoming too dry as they are loaded with water. In addition, they actively help fight germs and bacteria due to their high vitamin C content, while is at the same time working wonders for your immune system.
Ginger
Last but not least, ginger has been used for thousands of years as a herbal remedy for a variety of stomach problems, including indigestion and bad breath. Not only does the gorgeous flavour of ginger actively neutralise bad breath, but its naturally occurring properties can also help settle the stomach and in doing so potentially eliminate the root cause of bad breath.
