Kourtney Kardashian
If you’ve ever read anything I wrote, you know that by now, I’m all about the big picture. I don’t think in terms of one-step processing. The most common questions I get are similar to, “What’s the one thing I could eat or take to _____.” This is mostly relating to weight loss, and the person usually wants to see immediate results by adding in one supplement or one food. There are no end-alls when it comes to overall wellness. Same goes for chronic bad breath.
We assume if we have one problem, it’s caused by one thing. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case. So while onions, garlic, and fish can cause immediate bad breath, these are not the foods causing chronic bad breath. In fact, these are three of the most helpful foods to help to alleviate this problem! If mints aren’t doing the trick every time, or you have to constantly eat them to have fresh breath, let’s look at some of the probable causes and foods to avoid if you’re trying to recover.
Warning: this could include long-term lifestyle/dietary changes.
These are suggestions to take into consideration, but it’s always a good idea to talk to your regular doctor before making major decisions.
Protein breakdown is a function of normal mouth and gut microbiota. An imbalance can create a buildup of different compounds that cause bad breath. If you’ve done keto or know someone who has, you may already know this. Too much protein like eggs, fish, chicken, red meat, and even soybeans could be the culprit. I’m not saying ditch all protein, simply reminding you to consume in moderation.
Another knock on the beloved cheese. Here’s why: some dairy products contain amino acids that react with your oral bacteria to produce sulfur compounds that can make your breath sour. If you’re noticing more than just stomach trouble with your favorite wine pairing, perhaps take it (cheesy) easy.
I know this isn’t too much of a surprise, but a good mint or minty spray should be able to handle the strong morning beverage. Coffee has a drying and dehydrating effect and reduces saliva flow, allowing potent-smelling bacteria to grow. One way to improve your coffee breath is to increase hydration. I have a basic rule of thumb for myself: I drink16 ounces of water before ever consuming coffee, then hydrate another 16 ounces after.
Sometimes simply improving overall digestion can really help with bad breath. Believe it or not, a great way to do that is a diluted shot of good ol’ fashioned apple cider vinegar. It’s not easy for beginners, but it can really boost digestion, which can drastically change your healthy bacteria for better breath. The key point to this topic is that sometimes there are underlying issues that cause your problem and eventually can cause worse problems. Chronic bad breath is a symptom of an underlying cause that I encourage you to get to the bottom of.
Shop safe oral care for minty fresh breath below.
Cara Clark is the owner and primary Certified Nutritionist of Cara Clark Nutrition. Cara works with individuals and groups to promote overall health and to manage a wide range of nutrition-related issues. With a ‘non-dieting’ approach, she has helped clients manage weight, energy, performance, diabetes, thyroid related disease, allergies, eating disorders, and more.
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