Foods That Mask Bad Breath

Let’s face it, we’ve all had a spicy meal and the pungent spicy bad breath that comes along with it. In fact, sometimes the smell of garlic or other spices can stick around until the next day, even if you brush your teeth after the spicy meal. There are a number of reasons why this can happen, and fortunately some solutions to the problem!

Causes of Bad Breath

The cause of bad breath isn’t always as simple as what you’ve eaten, although bad breath due to spicy foods can certainly be exacerbated by other existing conditions. If you have any of these pre-existing conditions or habits, the likelihood of experiencing food-related bad breath is much higher:

Use of Tobacco Products

Pretty much any form of tobacco is going to cause bad breath. Using chewing tobacco, aka Snuff, is probably the WORST contributor to bad breath, with smoking cigarettes and cigars a close second. The chemicals released by tobacco, along with the color of the smoke, are deposited inside your mouth, on your teeth and tongue. The film can lead to bacteria and plaque, which will attract other odors, such as from food.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is a condition where there is not enough saliva to keep the mouth, teeth, gums and tongue lubricated. It can be caused by a number of things such as the use of tobacco products, medications, other medical conditions, and of course certain types of food.

Bacteria and Infection

If you have bacteria or infection in your mouth, bad breath will be one of the symptoms.

General Poor Dental Health

If you have poor dental health and do not follow the proper steps to ensure healthy teeth and gums (brushing, flossing, rinsing) you are likely to suffer from chronic bad breath.

Treating Bad Breath

In order to lower your chances of having food-related bad breath, it’s vitally important to take good care of your teeth and gums. Having a good solid dental hygiene routine that consists of regular brushing, flossing and rinsing, along with regular visits to the dentist, are the best ways to prevent chronic bad breath.

If you are a person who loves to eat spicy fragrant foods, there are some tricks you can use to help reduce the bad breath that results after a spicy meal. Along with brushing and rinsing, try these tricks after your next spicy meal:

Water

Water is always a good start to any dental health routine, bad breath included. After a spicy meal, drink a full glass of water and swish it around in your mouth to help dislodge bits of food and bacteria.

Parsley

There’s a reason restaurants often include a few pieces of fresh parsley on your plate. It’s not just a garnish – parsley contains special oils that help to reduce odors in the mouth and digestive system. So the next time you see parsley on your plate, chew it to prevent bad breath.

There are many other herbs that can help keep your mouth healthy and your breath fresh. Mint, basil, tarragon, coriander, fennel, cardamom, anise – the list goes on, however most people don’t have these spices readily available after a deliciously spicy restaurant meal, so parsley is a good start.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a powerful spice that can help prevent bacteria and freshen your breath. If you find it a little bit too strong (some people actually chew cinnamon sticks), try adding a stick to your after dinner coffee or tea.

Eat a Piece of Cheese

Eating cheese, or even yogurt after a spicy meal can help reduce bad breath. Certain compounds within these foods are able to neutralize the acids in the spicy foods, which in turn will help reduce the cause of bad breath. And the bonus is that dairy products are high in calcium and vitamin D, which will help keep your teeth strong.

Crunchy Raw Vegetables

Crunchy raw veggies can help combat bad breath a couple of ways:

• They encourage saliva production will can help rinse away odor causing foods and prevent dry mouth
• They help clean the teeth of leftover bits of food

A Handful of Nuts

Like crunchy raw veggies, nuts also act like little scrub brushes to help clear away food debris within the mouth.

Citrus and Other Fruits

Just like parsley, you might also find a slice of fruit on your plate at a restaurant. Fruits are generally high in Vitamin C which is known to reduce bacterial levels, and also helps fight gum disease. Finishing your meal with a glass of water with lemon is a good way to prevent bad breath.

Tea

Having a cup of tea after a meal is not only comforting, it’s also beneficial to your dental health, and your breath! Both black and green tea have a special antioxidant called Catechin. Catechin is a strong bacteria fighter. And of course bacteria is one of the leading causes of bad breath. So after a spicy meal, treat yourself to a cup of tea.

Sugarless Chewing Gum

Chewing sugarless gum is a good way to help clean your mouth of food and odors after a hearty meal. These days, there are lots of brands that also include whitening ingredients to help keep your smile at its brightest.

Breath Mints

You’ve probably noticed that many restaurants include a few after dinner mints when they bring your final bill to your table. Be sure to take advantage – breath minds work almost as well as parsley to help freshen your breath.

Summary

As you can see, there are lots of ways to help prevent bad breath caused by the foods you eat. And in general, it’s a good rule of thumb to practice excellent dental hygiene – not just to prevent food-related bad breath, but to help prevent plaque, bacterial and tooth decay that can lead to permanent bad breath. After every meal, be sure to rinse your mouth properly, and of course brush and floss at least twice a day!

If you have any concerns about chronic bad breath, contact one of our Vancouver dentists today for a free consultation.

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