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Diet
You are what you eat and drink, and this is especially true when it comes to the state of your breath, teeth, and gums. According to the American Dental Association, a poor diet increases your chances of developing bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Be forewarned that eating too much sugar can have dire consequences for breath, teeth, and gums. Bacteria in the mouth breed on sugars. They thrive on honey and brown sugar, the refined, white sugar in cookies, ice cream, and candy, and the corn syrup in sodas and syrups. The more sugar you consume, the more bacteria multiplies in your mouth and the more chance that you'll develop bad breath.
A high-sugar diet combined with infrequent tooth brushing and flossing inevitably leads to heavy plaque buildup, which in turn leads to bad breath. In addition, soft, sticky foods such as pasta, cookies, potatoes, and bread, tend to remain on the surface of and between teeth, where they breed bacteria, generate more plaque, and increase the likelihood of bad breath.
Because bleeding gums, cold sores, and cavities can be a sign that your diet needs enrichment, evaluate your eating habits. How much sugar are you eating at each meal? Are you eating at least seven servings of fresh fruits or vegetables a day? Remember, eating sugar or starches between meals can also lead to plaque build-up and bad breath.
A diet high in fibrous fruits and vegetables and whole grains helps clean the teeth and support healthy gum tissues. Eating a diet rich in whole foods and drinking at least ten eight-ounce glasses of water a day is your best bet for promoting healthy teeth. You may also want to start taking a multivitamin.
There are many foods that can help promote digestion and perk up breath. Papaya, for example, is a delicious fruit high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and also contains enzymes that promote digestion. Peppermint and spearmint tea both impart a pleasing taste, while herbs such as parsley and basil freshen breath as well as help digestion.
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