Foods That Make Your Breath Smell Bad

While there are plenty of reasons for the causes of bad breath like tooth decay, bacteria build-up, and periodontal diseases, sometimes it’s as simple as the food you eat. Foods that smell bad don’t necessarily affect your teeth, but Ft. Pierce dentists will tell you that they can affect your overall oral health. If you want to avoid unnecessary awkward situations because of your smelly breath, you should avoid these types of food.

Smelly Foods You Need to Avoid

Garlic and Onions

Two of the most common foods that can give you bad breath are garlic and onions. While these foods can provide plenty of positive health benefits, they’re also packed with smelly sulfur compounds. The smell of garlic and onions in your mouth is also widely known to be hard to remove since it can easily stick around the surfaces of your mouth.

Canned Tuna

While packed with healthy omega-three fish oil, canned tuna and other fish products produce a specific fishy odor. This fishy odor can remain in your mouth for several hours even if you drink plenty of water after your meal. To help you deal with the fishy odor, you should gargle with a scented mouthwash to wash away the fishy smell.

Durian Fruit

While you can’t encounter this fruit in any supermarket, there are some places where you can purchase this exotic fruit. Durian gives off a pungent odor similar to sewage water, dirty old laundry, and other unpleasant smells. If you want to try this fruit, you better be ready to wash it off with plenty of water and mouthwash.

More Foods That Cause Bad Breath

Garlic, onions, tuna, and durian get most of the blame, but they’re not the only culprits. Here are a few more foods a Ft Pierce dentist may point to when patients ask why their breath smells bad:

• Eggs and dairy: Eggs contain sulfur-rich proteins, and milk, cheese, and other dairy products leave behind proteins that mouth bacteria break down into smelly sulfur compounds.
• Chips and sugary snacks: Flavored chips like Doritos, candy, and other processed snacks leave sticky residue between your teeth. Bacteria feed on it and release odor as a byproduct.
• High-protein, low-carb meals: When you cut way back on carbs, your body burns fat for fuel and releases ketones, which can give your breath a fruity or sour smell that brushing alone won’t fix.

What about bananas? On their own, bananas aren’t a common cause of bad breath. Like any sweet food, though, they can contribute if bits are left behind and you don’t brush or rinse afterward.

Why Does Eating Fish Make Your Breath Smell Fishy?

Tuna, sardines, mackerel, and other seafood contain a compound that breaks down into trimethylamine, the chemical responsible for that strong fishy smell. Canned and older fish tend to have more of it, which is why the odor can linger long after lunch. If you notice fishy breath or body odor even when you haven’t eaten fish, mention it to your doctor, since a rare metabolic condition called trimethylaminuria can cause it.

How to Get Rid of Durian or Garlic Breath

Durian and garlic breath are so stubborn because their sulfur compounds don’t just sit in your mouth. They’re absorbed into your bloodstream and released through your lungs as you breathe, sometimes for hours. To shorten that window:

• Brush your teeth and gently clean your tongue, where odor-causing compounds collect.
• Eat crisp, raw produce like apples or lettuce, which research on garlic breath has found can help break down these compounds.
• Drink a glass of water or milk with your meal rather than waiting until afterward.
• Chew sugar-free gum to boost saliva, your mouth’s natural rinse.

If your breath still smells bad no matter what you eat, the cause may be gum disease, a cavity, or dry mouth rather than your diet. An Ft. Pierce dentist can identify the source and help you treat it.

Looking for a Ft. Pierce Dentist?

Your smile is important here at Smooth Sailing Dental. Whether you need help with your teeth or overall oral health, we offer a wide range of procedures that can be used to improve your appearance and bad breath. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.