What is Halitosis?
Halitosis or bad breath is an unpleasant odor that becomes noticeable when you exhale. The smell could be due to bacteria in your mouth. Halitosis is estimated to be the third most frequent reason for seeking dental aid, following tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Halitosis Diet
Your diet can play a big role in preventing or addressing bad breath due to halitosis. Fibrous fruits like apples help to dislodge even the smallest particles of food stuck between your teeth. This will effectively prevent bad breath. Although onion and garlic are healthy, it is better if you stay away from them. Fish and cheese also have a strong odor and it would be better to avoid them.
The following are tips for a diet plan for halitosis:
1. Carbohydrates are good for tackling halitosis. Make sure that you have an adequate amount of carbohydrates with every meal.
2. You should drink plenty of water. This will help dilute and flush out the concentration of ketones in your body. Ketones are chemicals that are released in the breath as the body burns fat.
3. Chewing a sprig of fresh parsley will help neutralize any lingering odor.
4. Fenugreek is an effective way to treat halitosis. Fenugreek tea helps cleanse the digestive tract and prevent bad breath.
5. Your daily diet should consist of fruits and vegetables. They contain fiber which is necessary for a clean digestive tract. Fruits like avocados effectively remove intestinal putrefactions. Make sure that you include fruits like grapes and melons in your diet. These fruits contain plenty of water and will prevent your mouth from becoming dry.
6. Try to eliminate or at least reduce your intake of processed foods.
7. Try to include spices like anise seeds, cloves, and fennel in your halitosis diet.
Patients suffering from halitosis should eat a well-balanced diet consisting of seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables, and fruits. In particular, they should include raw and cooked vegetables and fruits in their diet. They should avoid refined carbohydrates like white sugar, and white bread. You can chew on fresh herbs like mint or make tonics by steeping them in hot water (like tea). Coriander, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and cardamom are good for fighting bad breath and should be included in any healthy diet for halitosis.
Apples, carrots, celery — basically any fiber-rich fruit or vegetable is your friend when it comes to fighting halitosis. Eating berries, citrus fruits, melons, and other vitamin C-rich foods creates an inhospitable environment for bacterial growth. A diet rich in vitamin C is also important for preventing gum disease and gingivitis — both major causes of halitosis. Beans are rich in protein and contain a certain amount of fat that helps treat halitosis.
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