Nothing ruins a good first impression like bad breath. If your breath gets noticed more than you do, check out this Q&A and start breathing easy with tips on how to slay your dragon breath once and for all.
Ever wonder why your breath is so bad in the morning?
In a way, saliva is nature's way of protecting us from chronic bad breath. It helps wash down food debris and discourage the formation of bacteria in the mouth.... But unfortunately, saliva takes a break in the evening. When we sleep, the flow of saliva slows down considerably and our mouths become dry. This creates a perfect environment for sulfur-producing bacteria to thrive. And sulfur is responsible for that horrific morning breath smell.
What are the biggest bad-breath offenders?
Got a big date tonight? Avoid cheese, coffee, onion, and garlic. Garlic and onions are particularly potent because they contain compounds that are absorbed into the bloodstream and expelled by the lungs long after you've eaten. Cooked onion is significantly less potent than raw because their volatile oils evaporate in the heat. But garlic seems to get you whether it's raw, roasted, sautéed or cooked, though how badly your breath is affected is based on your personal sensitivity.
What about what I'm not eating?
Fasting or going long periods of time without eating can cause bad breath, as can dehydration.
Extreme low-carbohydrate diets are notorious for causing "ketone breath," a particularly rank brand of halitosis that is the result of forcing your body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates for fuel.
How can you cure bad breath?
Although only a short-term fix, mouthwash or mints can temporarily mask the bad breath caused by most foods (only time can really cure garlic or raw onion breath). The best solutions are those that help get rid of bacteria in the mouth:
- Regularly floss your teeth to eliminate debris around the gumline.
- Give your teeth and tongue a good brushing after meals (bacteria is often embedded around the taste buds and toward the back of the tongue).
- Consider a tongue scraper. Does the job better than a toothbrush.
- Drink lots of water to keep your mouth moist.
- Chew sugarless gum. Mint and cinnamon flavors will temporarily mask bad odor...plus, the stickiness helps remove food particles and debris on your teeth. Chewing gum also encourages the flow of saliva, which keeps your mouth moist.
- Chew on a sprig of parsley. Parsley's chlorophyll is thought to break down bacteria in the mouth and act as a mouth freshener.
- Try fennel seeds. Chewing on about ¼-½ teaspoon can help clear a bad taste from your mouth.
If you clean up your diet and still have dragon breath, speak with your doctor to rule out any underlying illnesses. Many medical conditions can contribute to bad breath, including periodontal disease, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, respiratory tract infections, xerostomia (dry mouth), gastrointestinal issues, diabetes, or liver or kidney disease.
