How To Get Rid Of Bad Breath Through Diet
Do you want to get rid of the annoying bad breath? Bad breath can be caused by several reasons, one of which is to consume certain foods. Here are some tricks to eliminate bad breath through diet. Apply them and get the fresh breath you want!
Remove bad breath through the diet
Bad breath or halitosis is not a clinical sign of a health problem, but it is very annoying. It is usually caused by the release of gases due to bacterial fermentation. If you have noticed that you have this problem, keep in mind that you are not alone, nor is it anything new: Halitosis affects 25% of the population.
Although there are many types and intensities of what is considered bad breath, we can also indicate that about 90% of cases are caused by the millions of bacteria that live in the oral cavity.
These bacteria can produce sulfur compounds by fermenting food. They do not have the best smell (to give you an idea, rotten eggs also create sulfur compounds).
The main causes of bad breath
Tooth plaque
The mouth is one of the places in the body with the greatest amount and variety of microbes. In terms of odor, dental plaque is related to bacterial putrefaction of a mixture of food debris, blood, cells and saliva.
When the microbial balance is lost, dental plaque can produce enough sulfur compounds, diamines or short-chain fatty acids to generate this symptomatology.
Food
Different types of foods have been linked to bad breath:
- Onions and Garlic : They are rich in sulfur compounds that can produce this characteristic bad breath, both in the mouth and later, when we absorb and excrete it, with lung gases.
- Dairy products : Several bacteria that live in the mouth can ferment the amino acids in dairy products and generate residues with names like cadaverine or putrescine.
- Canned fish : In general, everyone can identify the smell of rotten fish. During the time of sowing, fish continue to degrade and produce biogenic amines associated with certain types of bad breath.
- Fast-fermenting carbohydrates (FODMAP) : These are a type of carbohydrate molecule that is easily fermented by the natural bacteria in the mouth and intestines, which promotes the development of gas, bloating, intestinal motility disorders and of course bad breath.
Tobacco and alcohol
Consumption of high-frequency alcoholic beverages can increase the intensity of bad breath because ethanol is a dehydrating agent and causes evaporation of bacterial products. Tobacco also has an influence, which increases the effects of alcohol.
Strategy to get rid of bad breath through diet
Find out the cause of bad breath
The first thing you need to do before starting a treatment is to find out the cause of your bad breath. Maybe you just need to be careful about consuming garlic and onions or keeping your mouth hydrated.
Avoid tobacco and alcohol
As mentioned above, tobacco and alcohol can aggravate the symptoms of bad breath. If you drink or smoke, it is important to avoid these habits to reduce this problem.
Eat a maximum of three meals a day
The greater the number of daily intakes, the greater the change in oral pH, the longer time bacteria spend on feeding, and the greater the risk of food residues accumulating.
In addition, snacks between meals are in many cases sweet and appetizing for bacteria. Needless to say, this does not help you get rid of bad breath. It just makes things worse.
Have good oral hygiene and rinse with coconut oil
According to studies, brushing is more important than toothpaste. If you suffer from bad breath, we also recommend that you periodically rinse with coconut oil when you have finished brushing your teeth. Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, a substance that has shown positive effects in the fight against various pathogens.
- So when you are done brushing your teeth, take a tablespoon of coconut oil and rinse for 5 to 10 minutes. You can then perform this process for up to 20 minutes. When the time is up, do not swallow the oil, but spit it out.
Chew specific herbs to treat bad breath through the diet
Chewing parsley, mint, cloves, fennel and some herbs like alfalfa, cardamom, chamomile, myrrh, rosemary and sage also help treat halitosis.
Some useful supplements to treat bad breath through the diet
- Zinc : Several studies show that zinc salts convert sulfur compounds into odorless gases.
- Probiotics : In general, the bacteria that should remain in the mouth of healthy people is Streptococcus salivarius. However, in people with bad breath, low levels or even absence of this bacterium have been identified. Therefore, it seems that oral probiotics can help solve this type of problem.
Finally, if you want to get rid of bad breath, plan your meals, moderate fast-fermenting fiber, and try rinsing with coconut oil. In many cases, these measures are enough to combat this discomfort. If symptoms persist, we recommend that you consult a professional.
