4 foods that can cause bad breath

Brushing our teeth is not the only method to keep our breath fresh, as the dirt that may remain on them is not the only thing that can cause it. For example, did you know that certain foods can trigger bad breath?Bad breath, or halitosis, can exist even if you brush your teeth, floss, and scrape your tongue, and this could indicate that it is not about hygiene, but rather what you are eating. Beyond avoiding onion or garlic, there are other foods that can cause your mouth to smell bad for various reasons; here we tell you about some of them.What foods cause bad breath?Onion and garlic often top the list of foods that cause bad breath because they contain sulfur compounds, but some others promote dryness in the mouth or the generation of bacteria, such as the examples we provide below.Coffee and alcohol. These two beverages are diuretics, meaning they cause the body to eliminate fluids more quickly. As a result, the mouth dries out and does not produce much saliva, which helps clean the mouth, so when there isn't enough, bacteria can live in your mouth longer. You don’t have to cut out your consumption of them, but remember to stay hydrated when consuming them.Acidic foods. From orange juice to pasta with tomato sauce, some very acidic foods can cause bad breath because they leave an “acidic environment” in your mouth, promoting the growth of bacteria. Additionally, for people suffering from reflux, this can be worse, as the acids return to the throat and can also cause bad odors.Too much protein. This may be surprising, but eating too much protein can cause bad breath because the bacteria in the mouth break down protein into ammonia compounds, so you could end up with a litter box breath when you consume a lot of protein.Some dairy products. Not all dairy products, because, for example, yogurt is one of the foods that leaves you with fresh breath, but cheese and milk, in particular, contain amino acids that when metabolized release sulfur compounds, so when bacteria break down these two dairy products, you are left with a rotten egg smell in your mouth.Although these foods can cause a bad odor after consuming them, don’t worry, because by brushing your teeth after eating them and staying hydrated, you can keep your mouth fresh; don’t forget to clean your tongue, as many bacteria tend to stay there.