Is What You Are About to Consume Going To Make You Stink? Articles | Bad Breath

By: Kathryn Stovall

Do people look the other way when you speak to them like they are trying to avoid something?  Does your breath smell bad?  Don't be that guy!  If you are and you know then maybe here you will find some useful tips on how to control your bad breath by being aware of some of the causes.

A bunch of things can cause bad breath, most of which are easy to resolve, one of which is your diet.  If something you are eating a lot of could be causing your foul mouth then you can eliminate it so that you can have fresh breath.

Lets look at what you are eating, you can avoid, or simply be aware that some foods cause bad breath.  There are many kinds of food that cause this bad breath.  A lot of these foods are really quite good for you to have in your diet, but no matter how you cook them up they will still cause that offensive breath.  There are certain chemicals in food that can make the bacteria that is naturally found in the mouth, and it contains sulfur and will react causing the smell associated with bad breath.

The same sulfur molecules are the same that a skunk uses to defend himself when he's in trouble, we all know that stinks!  If you introduce foods to your mouth that contain this sulfur chemical it is going to increase the bad smell in your mouth.  Some of the other foods which do not contain this sulfur will still offer up that same reaction ending in the same result, bad breath!

Has anyone ever walked up to you after just eating a burger loaded with onions or garlic bread, and they try to have a conversation with you?  If so then you know that onions, along with garlic is one of the two most common foods that are known for causing bad breath.  They could have eaten a sugar free mint or something so that you would not have to smell that bad breath, but they not know or not be concerned about their breath.  The reason that these two foods create such a stench is because they contain the sulfur that were talking about earlier.

Alcohol will dry your mouth out and stop the production of saliva which is why it is a leading contributor to bad breath.  The mouth needs saliva to keep the bacteria in there at a normal level.  Most of the mouthwashes that you can buy at any local store will not actually help you to clean your mouth.  They do a great job at temporarily relieving your bad breath problems, but in the long run your mouth will be worse off because using it too frequently will stop your mouth from producing the saliva.

Dairy products, meats, and some fish are high protein foods can also cause bad breath.  Dairy products are the most likely source because they contain the compound called volatile sulfur, which as we talked about before, makes for a terrible combination when you mix it with the sulfur that is already in your mouth.  Some meats and fish will cause this exact same reaction.

Sugar is even worse then garlic or onions when it comes to promoting bad breath.  Onions and garlic contain sulfur and if combined with the sulfur that is already in your mouth it will make you have that terrible breath.  Sugar actually aids in the growth of that sulfur, so the more sugar you eat the more sulfur your mouth is going to produce.  Stay away from sugary mints and gum because they just make your breath worse over time.  Even though you enjoy the minty taste, anyone standing around you will not be impressed with the smell of  your breath.

If you are going out for a night on the town with friends, avoid eating citrus foods such as oranges, lemons, or limes.  These can lead to bad breath because the acids will aid in the growth of that sulfur bacteria.  Some other acidic foods that you should consider avoiding are coffee and tomato juice, these are notorious for making halitosis much worse.

Avoid these common foods - onions, garlic, dairy, fish, meat, citrus fruit, coffee and tomato juice, and maybe you can help yourself to control your bad breath.  Even though there could be other factors causing you your bad breath problem, you can test out each one of these theories and see if something, or all of them work for you.  You are well on your way to eliminating your bad breath!