How-to: beat bad breath

It’s true. Certain foods are more evil than others – and we’re not talking about chocolate cake – we’re talking about foods that step up the stench factor. If you’ve got a hot date and want to avoid scaring him away with your breath at the end of the night, we suggest you read on and learn what to eat and what to avoid when it comes to preventing bad breath…

Garlic
No surprises here, garlic causes one of the most permeating and repellent stenches around when it comes to bad breath, so if you’re planning on a romantic dinner, skip the garlic bread and ask for herb bread instead, because…

Parsley
Parsley actually helps to fight bad breath. A popular garnish on many restaurant meals, it’s an easy fix to bad breath if you’ve accidently ingested some inconspicuous garlic.

Alcohol
Yes, excessive alcohol consumption can dry out your mouth and lead to bad breath, so take it easy on the wines with dinner.

Salt
Gargling salt with warm water after a particularly stenchy meal is a great bad breath cure that will help to neutralise the odour. Dousing your food in it will have the opposite effect.

Acidic foods
Foods high in acid such as citrus juices, tomato and pineapple, can affect the pH level of your mouth, leading to bad breath, so steer clear of them where possible if you want to maintain fresh breath.

Milk
Full fat milk is thought to help to neutralise unpleasant odours and flavours in the mouth, so have a cold one with your dessert, or use it as an excuse to pile up on milky ice-cream!