Scientists say they have found a cure for bad breath — and it's in most people's kitchens
Scientists say they have found a cure for bad breath — and it's in most people's kitchens. A meta-analysis of existing studies found probiotic bacteria in fermented foods like yoghurt, sourdough bread and miso soup can clear the plaque responsible for bad breath from the teeth and tongue. Volatile sulphuric compounds are the main cause of persistent bad breath and occur when bacteria living on the tongue's surface break down proteins too quickly and create a surplus of the smelly chemical. Probiotics are good bacteria that live in the body, break down and absorb the nutrients from food and protect from harmful bacteria. Other probiotic-rich food and drink include pickles and the trendy tea kombucha. Researchers found that probiotic supplements could help fight off bad breath by reducing the proteins responsible for it in the mouth, while also helping fight the build up of plaque in the mouth (file photo) RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Have yourself a healthy little Christmas! From yoghurt... Forget pricey transplants... common supplements DO counter... Revealed: Drinking a glass of milk and eating a yoghurt... My 10 best foods for spots and wrinkles: DR MEGAN ROSSI... Share this article Share 46 shares There are already several treatments for bad breath, including mouthwashes, chewing gum, teeth scaling and tongue scraping. While these can temporarily boost someone's oral hygiene, poor habits or genetic factors can cause bad breath to return. Researchers from Sichuan University in China looked at whether probiotics could expel proteins responsible for the foul odor like they do bad bacteria.
