Fight Bad Breath with Apples, Yogurt, Parsley and More

Ever been on that special first date, and your date comments on your breath? My husband to this day comments on my breath at time, and I have to wonder: Is he noticing this cause he's that close to me or are others noticing it, too, and they're too nice to tell me? Being that we cannot smell our own breath, I try to have gum or mints of some sort if I know I have a meeting with a client or going to a meeting where I'm in close proximity to people. Most likely we have heard of getting rid of our bad breath with a toothbrush and some mouthwash and we know that garlic and onions can give us smelly mouths; but have you ever thought about foods that fight bad breath? Here are some suggestions to try.

Yogurt is a common food that can fight bad breath. The active bacteria and cultures found in yogurt help to fight the bacteria in the mouth that cause odor causing compounds in the mouth. A recent study found that if one eats 6 ounces of yogurt daily, they are lowering their plaque and risk of gum disease. Don't like yogurt? Then try an apple!

Apples taste good and their texture is hard so it allows you to get rid of plaque from your teeth and it produces more saliva. A dry mouth breeds more bacteria which in turn cause your mouth to smell. I prefer apples to apple cider vinegar, but for those of you who can stand it, mix apple cider vinegar with some water. This solution is also very good for staving off stinky breath. Actually most experts agree that juicy fruits will help to produce that saliva which makes your mouth moist. Strawberries and melons are great fruits to eat.

Drink your water! Not only is water a good way to hydrate your body, it washes the germs out of the mouth. Another good breath fighter is parsley, which contains chlorophyll and is absorbed through the bloodstream when eaten. The nice thing about parsley is that it freshens our breath from the inside out. Also, any green leafy vegetables will help. So if you have celery or cucumbers on hand, eat some of those.

The important thing to remember is that halitosis itself should be monitored as it can indicate a dental or digestive problem. Oral hygiene is instrumental in controlling bad breath as well as maintaining a healthy mouth. Regularly brushing and flossing is of the utmost importance. Contrary to popular belief, mouthwash will not get rid of bad breath; rather, it masks it for a time. So try some good foods that fight our bad breath. You may be surprised at its effect and you just may eliminate those bad breath comments.