1. For Bad Breath:
Fresh Parsley, Peppermint and Spearmint
Some fresh herbs, such as parsley, peppermint and spearmint, are nature’s version of a dinner mint: The strong oils contained within them help to overpower nose-offending scents.
“These herbs can act like a mouthwash to temporarily mask odors. Plus, they leave behind a pleasant aroma,” says Sally Cram, DDS, a Washington, DC-based periodontist and spokesperson for the American Dental Association. So go ahead and munch on that parsley garnish after dinner—even though the results will only last for a few minutes, it's better than nothing at all.
However, keep in mind that chronic bad breath (not linked to the consumption of fragrant foods, like garlic and onions) may be a sign of periodontal disease. If your bad breath just won't go away, Dr. Cram recommends seeing a dentist, who can help get to the root of the problem as well as devise an oral health plan that's right for you.
Milk Is your post-dinner garlic breath pungent enough to ward off a family of vampires? Next time, drink a glass of milk with your meal, suggests a 2010 study from Ohio State University.
“We found that drinking beverages with high water and some fat content, like milk, may help reduce garlic breath and mask the garlic odor during eating,” says researcher Sheryl Barringer, PhD.
Both fat-free and whole milk reduced the sulphur compounds in garlic that are the cause of its strong smell, but whole milk got the best results, perhaps because fat is more effective at neutralizing odors.
Fresh Parsley, Peppermint and Spearmint
Some fresh herbs, such as parsley, peppermint and spearmint, are nature’s version of a dinner mint: The strong oils contained within them help to overpower nose-offending scents.
“These herbs can act like a mouthwash to temporarily mask odors. Plus, they leave behind a pleasant aroma,” says Sally Cram, DDS, a Washington, DC-based periodontist and spokesperson for the American Dental Association. So go ahead and munch on that parsley garnish after dinner—even though the results will only last for a few minutes, it's better than nothing at all.
However, keep in mind that chronic bad breath (not linked to the consumption of fragrant foods, like garlic and onions) may be a sign of periodontal disease. If your bad breath just won't go away, Dr. Cram recommends seeing a dentist, who can help get to the root of the problem as well as devise an oral health plan that's right for you.
Milk Is your post-dinner garlic breath pungent enough to ward off a family of vampires? Next time, drink a glass of milk with your meal, suggests a 2010 study from Ohio State University.
“We found that drinking beverages with high water and some fat content, like milk, may help reduce garlic breath and mask the garlic odor during eating,” says researcher Sheryl Barringer, PhD.
Both fat-free and whole milk reduced the sulphur compounds in garlic that are the cause of its strong smell, but whole milk got the best results, perhaps because fat is more effective at neutralizing odors.
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