Breath alert
How to stop halitosis in its tracks
We all know the uncomfortable feeling when our breath has
crossed over into the stinky zone. The culprit can be anything
from a vitamin imbalance to dry mouth. But garden-variety
bad breath usually is caused by food particles left in the
mouth after a meal and the resulting bacteria, says Eric
Shapira, DDS, a Montara, California-based spokesperson for
the Academy of General Dentistry. Here are a few surefire
ways to fight the funk.
+ BRUSH, FLOSS, AND SCRAPE
Like gums and the crevices between teeth, your
tongue’s grooved surface traps bacteria, which
metabolize food remnants into lactic acid every
20 minutes, and produce a smelly sulphur-dioxide
byproduct, says Shapira. To knock out icky smells
before they start, brush and floss right after eating.
Then scrape with a tongue “rake,” says Karen Gross,
a registered dental hygienist in Boulder, Colorado.
Finally, swish with water.
+ LUBE YOUR LIPS
Though lips are much smoother than your gums
and tongue, even the slightest creases can trap
food particles and microorganisms. Also, when not
properly hydrated, sticky lip tissue becomes prime
real estate for odorous bacteria. Shapira recommends drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water
daily. Apply all-natural lip balm whenever your lips
start to chap.
+ GET HELP FROM HERBS
Bring on the oregano and sweet basil: These leafy,
fresh-tasting herbs neutralize odors caused by
eating dairy or pungent foods, such as onions and
garlic. According to herbalist Brigitte Mars, author
of Beauty by Nature (Book Publishing Company,
2006), cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon bark can
also stymie microbes, while offering powerful,
pleasant aromas of their own. Long used as a
garnish on dishes, chlorophyll-rich parsley also kills
scent-producing germs.
+ EAT FRUITS AND VEGGIES
Follow a garlic- or onion-laced dinner with slices
of fruit or a few nibbles of a high-fiber vegetable.
Apples, oranges, and pineapples all contain
enzymes that break down odor-causing bacteria,
says Shapira. Crisp, fibrous veggies such as celery,
jicama, and carrots also can mollify mouth odor
because chewing them—much like chomping
on sugar-free gum—churns saliva, which
quashes bacteria. –Melaina Juntti
