Do
vegetarians have sweeter breath than carnivores?
 Image by Fantata via Flickr |
| Halitosis a problem? |
Foods high in protein, particularly animal
protein such as fish, seafood, eggs, and dairy foods (especially milk and cheese)
are the main culprits of halitosis (bad breath). Consuming these high protein foods also feeds
the bacteria living in our mouths and intestinal tracts. The waste
products of those bacteria can produce some stinky byproducts.
Driving by a feed lot, it is hard
to ignore the foul odor which is actually created by a sulfur compound called methyl mercaptan -- this same sulfur compound is excreted as a waste product by our own oral bacteria as it feeds on particles of decaying meat debris found in gum lines and wedged in between teeth.These
sulfur compounds are known by dentists as
"volatile sulfur
compounds" (VSC's).
Volatile sulfur compounds are the main
culprits of bad breath, but the oral bacteria that feed on animal protein actually
produce a variety of stinky waste products such as:
- Cadaverine (taking its name from the smell of corpses)
- Putrescine (taking its name from the putrid smell of decaying meat)
- Skatole (this emanates the smell of fecal matter)
- Isovaleric Acid (think smelly feet)
To rid your mouth of these nasty bacterial byproducts, stick to a diet full of fruits and vegetables. High fiber, crunchy plant food increases saliva production which keeps the bacteria at bay. Vitamin C is especially helpful in limiting oral bacteria because it creates an unfriendly environment for bacterial growth. Get your vitamin C from fresh produce (citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers) rather than from supplements.
It has long been known that parsley fights
halitosis, but other herbs are helpful as well to include cardamon, rosemary,
tarragon, coriander, eucalyptus and spearmint.
Related articles
Bad breath itself is usually the result of too many bacteria in the mouth, bacteria that are supposed to be there, but give off a nasty odor when there are too much of them. Peptic ulcers causes reflux and sometimes vomiting, which contributes to bad breath. In this case, dealing with the underlying peptic ulcer makes a lot of sense because all the general oral hygiene tips in the world will not help you. Zantac is the medication that is most commonly recommended for this and as result of fixing the peptic ulcer, your breath will freshen up as well.
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