Bad breath is an all too common problem for many Aussies, especially those who have poor dental hygiene, those with health problems, such as allergies, or are simply genetically predisposed to it.

Our efforts to combat it are usually met with a range of treatments, from over-the-counter mouthwash to professional scaling and tongue scraping. And yet, all of this can feel like it's for naught when bad breath returns.



However, now scientists have come up with a solution to combat bad breath — and it can be found in most of our fridges and pantries, and of course, supermarkets!

A meta-analysis of existing studies has found that consuming probiotic-rich foods can clear the plaque responsible for bad breath from the teeth and tongue.



So what kind of foods and beverages should we be consuming?

The probiotic-filled food and drink that can help us to nip undesirable breath in the bud include fermented foods such as yoghurt, sourdough bread, and miso soup. Other probiotic-rich foods and drinks include pickles and kombucha tea.

In a research published in BMJ Open, scientists from Sichuan University looked into whether these probiotics could expel proteins that are responsible for the foul odour from the mouth, the same way they would with bad bacteria.



They were able to look at seven clinical trials involving 278 people – of which each compared a probiotic treatment to a placebo treatment.

And their findings were a mouthful of good news (pun intended): the results showed that bad breath scores had decreased significantly among those in the probiotics-takers group compared to those in the placebo group.

A similar result was found for the levels of volatile sulphur compounds detected, which are the main cause of persistent bad breath.



However, there wasn't any noticeable difference in terms of plaque levels found on the tongue and teeth or the tongue coating score.

Dr Longjiang Li, who led the study, said that probiotics help reduce bad breath because they can help stop anaerobic bacteria in the mouth from breaking down amino acids and proteins, which stops them from making 'smelly by-products'.



The study did note that the effects of treatment with probiotics were relatively short-lived (up to four weeks only), so it may not be necessary to gorge on these probiotic-rich foods every day to keep your breath smelling nice.

But it's still very handy to keep in mind as a viable option to help with your bad breath problem.

Remember that nothing you read here should be considered medical advice and that if you see anything out of the ordinary, you should consult a dentist or doctor right away.

When should I see my dentist?

If you have foul breath that doesn't go away after brushing your teeth, you should probably make an appointment with your dentist. Many causes of foul breath can be traced back to oral issues, and your dentist will check for problems like cavities and gum disease.

They will also be able to give you advice about oral hygiene, including how to take care of your dentures if you have them. Your dentist may suggest visiting your GP if they suspect that an underlying medical condition is to blame for your chronic bad breath.

We hope this information is helpful, folks!