Watch Out For Halitosis! Beware of Foods and Drinks that Trigger Dragon Breath

They don't call it dragon breath for nothing—bad breath is downright unpleasant. Whether you are the recipient of somebody else's bad breath, or whether you are the carrier yourself, there are many things to look for if you are trying to stay out of the path of halitosis. Bad breath is something that no one really wants to deal with or talk about, but if you can keep up your vigilance, there are many things that you can do in order to keep your mouth clean and fresh.

Watch Out for Spicy or Pungent Foods

If you are going on that big job interview or that even bigger date, you want to make sure you steer clear of some foods and in the direction of more healthy, wholesome fare. There are certainly many very healthy foods that can cause bad breath, but as a very general rule, keep in mind that most snack foods and junk food are more likely to cause bad breath. Why is this? Simple—most snack or junk foods contain myriad artificial sweeteners, chemicals or processed foods that tend to only exacerbate the bad breath monster. In general, you should avoid the following foods if you are consciously trying to avoid a day of bad breath: pizza, onions, garlic, oily meats such as pepperoni, most kinds of cheeses, cabbage, some kind of mushrooms, some pasta dishes, and anything that smells particularly strong or pungent or spicy.

Bar Bad Breath From Your Mouth By Not Overindulging in Alcohol

You are at the bar and talking with friends and maybe even potential dates. The last thing you probably want to include in this fun scenario is bad breath. But that is, unfortunately, what they are serving at the bar: bad breath. Most types of beers will result in a sour beer mouth. Most kinds of strong alcohol in general will cause bad breath because it has a drying effect on the mouth. A dry mouth is the best kind of breeding ground for bacteria and germs. If you really want to avoid bacteria, you will want to avoid dry mouth. If you want to avoid bad breath, you will want to avoid dry mouth. See how that works? If you have to drink, but still care about your breath, choose fruit-based drinks, or just stick to seltzer water.

Coffee Addicts Everywhere – Beware the Peril of Coffee Breath

Coffee breath is one of those things that most people do not talk about, but it definitely exists. Millions of people roll out of bed each morning with one thought on their brain: Where's my coffee? But coffee is one of those drinks that is actually quite high on the acidity scale. And acid is a no-no if you want to keep your breath as clean and fresh as possible. You can counteract the effects of that steaming cup of coffee by doing a quick post-coffee cup counterattack, which means brushing your teeth thoroughly after each cup of coffee is downed.