Slaying Dragon Breath

Does it seem no amount of brushing and gargling leaves your breath minty fresh? Surprisingly, dental hygiene isn’t the only factor influencing a case of halitosis.

Certain foods like garlic and onions don’t just hover in your mouth, they actually contain oils that digest into the bloodstream and release through the lungs. Mucus from sinus or upper respiratory infections can have a foul odor that permeates from the back of your throat. Even stomach disorders like acid reflux, lactose intolerance, or yeast overgrowth can cause noxious gases to rise up. And as if you didn’t have enough reason to kick the smoking habit, tobacco is a leading cause of periodontal disease and dry mouth, which both dial up oral stench.

Neutralize it with these tips:

• Brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper to help reduce the food particles that lead to smelly bacterial growth
• Drink green tea, which has been found to help disinfect sulfur–producing bacteria that cause bad breath
• Chew sugarless gum to stimulate saliva production
• Eat yogurt — its probiotics help stabilize bacterial growth
• Gnaw on a cinnamon stick to deodorize — in addition to antibacterial qualities, it produces a crisp scent, and while recent studies suggest nibbling on parsley does little, the herb has long been touted as an effective folk remedy for curbing dragon breath.