You can be a superstar when it comes to taking care of your oral health, but all it takes is a few mouthfuls of certain foods to give your breath an unpleasant aroma. The top five offenders are garlic, onions, dairy, canned tuna and horseradish. Mouthwashes can help stifle the stink, but natural treatments also do the trick. 

When patients build a long-term relationship with the office of Summerhill Dental Excellence, they ensure continuity of care and a thorough understanding of your dental history and needs. We empower our patients with knowledge, which provides them with the information they need to make proactive decisions about their oral health.

Raw fruits and vegetables are not only tasty and packed with nutrients, but they also freshen your breath by scrubbing away bacteria and plaque. The saliva they stimulate helps wash away odor-causing food debris, sulfur compounds and bacteria. Call on carrots, apples, bell peppers, cucumbers, celery, pears, broccoli, snap peas and cauliflower. Apples get bonus points because their chemicals help neutralize the sulfur compounds that can seep into your bloodstream. 

Saliva has another important mission: to preserve your mouth’s pH. Acidic foods fast-forward saliva production, which returns your mouth to its neutral state. Count on juiced or whole grapefruits, limes, lemons and oranges. Caveat: An abundance of citric acid isn’t good for your enamel, so consume it in moderation and rinse your mouth with water afterwards. 

Fermented and probiotic foods also fight bad breath. Millions of bacteria and other microorganisms—some friendly, some unfriendly—live in your mouth. When the unfriendly ones outnumber the friendly ones, the unfriendly ones can have a field day. The live strains of favorable bacteria in fermented and probiotic foods can help restore order in your mouth, combat icky breath and benefit your gut health. Try yogurt, sourdough bread, kombucha, miso, kefir, pickles, cheese, tofu, tempeh and sauerkraut.

Chewing on fresh herbs—such as basil, parsley and mint— breaks down sulfur compounds that cause bad breath. Spices—such as fennel, anise and cardamom—release sweet-smelling essential oils that can freshen breath and fight odor-causing bacteria. 

Choose Summerhill Dental Excellence as your dental practice and experience the difference in personalized, high-quality care that prioritizes your well-being. Your smile is our priority, and we look forward to being your trusted dental partner. Please don’t hesitate to call us for an appointment.