Look Out! The Top Foods That Give You Bad Breath

Have you ever leaned in to shake someone’s hand and immediately smelled a foul odor on their breath? Even worse, have you ever been that person? As an experienced dentist in San Antonio, I know the culprit could be everything from poor oral hygiene to unhealthy dental habits. However, 80% of the time the answer is right under our noses – the foods we eat. Bad breath can happen to anyone, but with the right care, it doesn’t have to become normal.

The Top Foods That Give You Bad Breath

Unfortunately, many of the foods we love linger on our breath long after our meal. Some of the most common offenders are garlic and onions. Although they both are a delicious addition to a wide variety of meals, their pungent smell and flavor certainly linger. Another popular garnish that makes the list is horseradish, especially when combined with sour cream and mayonnaise. Seafood, particularly canned tuna and shrimp can leave a not-so-pleasant odor on your breath as well. Lastly, spicy foods. Ingredients that pack a punch, like chiles and peppers, can add a lot of flavor to your meal, but the aroma will linger long after you’re done.

8 Must-Know Tips for Minty-Fresh Breath

If some of your favorite foods and ingredients made the above list, don’t worry – you don’t have to give them up entirely. With the right best practices in place, you can indulge every now and again without worry. Here are a few tips to remember:

• Drink plenty of water during your meal. This will rinse away food particles, preventing them from clinging to your teeth and negatively affecting your breath.
• Eat plenty of raw fruits and veggies. Crisp apples and fresh celery are a few crunchy, vitamin-rich foods that act like nature’s toothbrush, scraping away plaque and debris as you chew.
• Brush your teeth after each meal. To clean the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth, brush for two full minutes after each meal.
• Clean your tongue. Your tongue takes up a lot of real estate in your mouth, so make sure to keep it as bacteria-free as possible by gently cleaning it with a tongue scraper or toothbrush.
• Floss and rinse with mouthwash daily. All too often, patients forget just how important flossing and rinsing with mouthwash is! While flossing cleans between your teeth, mouthwash kills harmful bacteria and freshens your breath.
• Avoid unhealthy dental habits. Smoking, using your teeth as tools, and drinking alcohol in excess are all habits that can wreak havoc on your oral health, and, consequently, your breath.
• Visit your dentist every six months. Your bi-yearly checkups and cleanings not only screen for dental problems, like tooth decay and gum disease, but they also remove stubborn tartar and plaque!
• Chew on sugar-free gum. If you’re out and about when you notice the smell of your breath is starting to wane, try chewing on a stick of sugar-free gum. Although it’s only a short-term solution, it should help freshen your breath.

When to Talk to Your Dentist About Bad Breath

A slight odor on your breath every now and again is completely normal, especially after a particularly pungent meal. However, if it becomes a common occurrence, then it’s important to schedule an appointment with your dentist. More often than not, the root of the problem is an untreated dental concern or improper at-home oral hygiene. Fortunately, these are both issues your dental team can easily address! So, if you’ve begun to feel insecure about the smell of your breath, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment today. That way, you’ll be back to minty-fresh breath sooner rather than later!