Fresh Breath Foods

How's your breath?

Honestly, we have all fallen victim to bad breath, at one time or other, whether we realized it or not. Those caesar salads taste great, but the stinky smell your breath takes on can send those around you running for the hills. If you suspect you have bad breath it is actually best not to smell your breath in your cupped hands, but rather lick the back of your hand, let the salive dry, and then give it a sniff. If you've then realized your worst fears, and a piece of sugarless gum is nowhere to be found, consider these 5 fresh breath foods.

1) Tea - green or black tea contains antioxidants called polyphenols that kick out the bacteria that are causing your stinky breath as long as you don't add sugar to your tea.

2) Fresh Herbs/Spices - chewing certain herbs/spices kill those bad bacteria and freshens your breath. Try parsley, mint, fennel seeds, anise, cloves or cinnamon.

3) Apples - an apple a day may in fact keep the dentist away too and keep your friends close. Crunchy fruits and veggies like apples, celery, and carrots help scrape odor-causing plaque off your teeth.

4) Citrus Fruits - fruits high in Vitamin C, like oranges and grapefruit, help get rid of unwanted bactreria that cause bad breath and also fight gum disease like gingivitis which if left untreated can lead to even more bad breath.

5) Yogurt - again sugar-free yogurt drives the bad odor causing bacteria out of you mouth. Bonus: the Vitamin C also fights off the bad bacteria. Takes a bit of time to help though - two servings each day X 6 weeks.

If bad breath persists, check with your dental professional as some medical conditions can bring on bad breath such as acid reflux and cancer.

Obviously, for the best possible sweet-smelling breath keep up on your flossing and brushing, and seeing a dental hygienist once every six months.