Every wrong decision during a date can accumulate and turn the experience sour. Wearing an overpowering scent, checking your phone incessantly, and opening up about your ex can instantly ruin the mood. And ordering food that sabotages your fresh breath? Might as well call it a night!
Yes, some menu items contain odour-causing compounds that your body absorbs and eventually discharges when you exhale. Unfortunately, most of them are dependable sources of comfort – exactly what you’d want to eat on a nerve-racking date. But, alas, fate has other plans. Want to know how to prevent bad breath when dining out and avoid repelling your S.O.? Save this list of ingredients and menu items you should watch out for.
1. Garlic
Don’t celebrate right away if your waiter serves you a complimentary basket of bread. If the rolls or slices come slathered in butter and topped with garlic bits, muster all your courage to resist them. According to the International Journal of Dentistry and Oral Health, ingesting the allium can produce compounds which leave that distinct foul odour in your mouth.
2. Onion
Thinking of starting your meal with something warm and soothing? Avoid the ultra-satisfying French onion soup at all costs! The Journal of the American Dental Association also lists onions as one of the top causes of temporary or transient bad breath. So, you’re better off ordering clear soups, like a chicken consommé or the Japanese miso.
3. Tuna
Going for a simple salad with a colourful assortment of toppings is a fail-safe option – usually. But if it comes with chunks of tuna, like in the classic French niçoise salad, don’t hesitate to skip it. That strong smell of fish (especially when canned!) comes from trimethylamine. According to the International Journal of Dentistry and Oral Health, your body can absorb this ammonia-smelling compound and exhale it throughout the night.
4. Curries
Save yourself from humiliation and skip the fish head curry when you spot it on the menu. First, it’s just too messy. And you might not fully enjoy the dish as you’d be too conscious to use your hands. Then, of course, all those spices will only leave your tongue coated with a film of spices. In fact, an International Journal of Research and Review (IJRR) study listed curries as a common cause of temporary halitosis.
5. Lots of meat
Grilled or roasted meats might seem harmless, right? Not exactly. An excessive amount of beef, lamb, pork, or chicken can also lead to bad breath, according to the same IJRR study. Because once the protein breaks down during digestion, it produces ammonia (think: cat pee!), which then escapes through the mouth.
And don’t even consider masking the smell with a sauce, especially if it features horseradish. The root vegetable releases isothiocyanate, the chemical compound behind its pungent profile. So, if you have no plans of smelling like wasabi the whole night, avoid all forms of horseradish in your meal.
6. Cheese
Eyeing that crispy, golden chicken fillet topped with tomato sauce and a thick layer of gooey cheese? Save it for next time. All that cheese, whether mozzarella, Parmesan, or provolone, can leave you with foul breath, says the IJRR study. The amino acids from dairy products can react with your oral bacteria and produce hydrogen sulfide, causing your mouth to smell like rotten eggs.
7. Tomatoes
No Bolognese, marinara, puttanesca, or lasagna, especially on your first date, please! The risk of staining your clothes with every forkful you pull up from the bowl isn’t worth taking. Plus, a Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science study highlighted how acidic foods, like tomatoes, can encourage the growth of bad breath-causing bacteria in the mouth.
8. Kimchi
Garlic, ginger, red pepper paste, radish, scallions, and cabbage. One look at these kimchi ingredients, and you already know this Korean dish will take you farther away from your fresh breath. And don’t forget about the fermentation process which increases its acidity. Not even mixing kimchi with rice or noodles can save you from its malodorous effects!
9. Coffee and alcohol
Thinking of ordering tiramisu? Dairy products, as you know, can leave a foul smell in your mouth. Similarly, coffee and alcohol can create a favourable environment for odour-causing bacteria to thrive, says the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. They can also cause dry mouth, reduce saliva flow, and allow unwelcome microorganisms to flourish further.
10. Citrus fruits
How to make your breath smell nice at the end of your meal? Stick to fruits for better breath! But not the citrus kind. Sorry, but no lemon tart, orange lamingtons, or key lime pie for dessert. They’re also an acidic food group and will only make the odour-causing bacteria in your mouth rejoice.
Truth is, all food can lead to bad breath. Bits and particles can get stuck between teeth, allowing bacteria to grow and cause odour-producing acids. If you want to avoid this scenario, visit your doctor and have any misaligned teeth fixed. Consider aligner therapy with ClearCorrect so you can straighten teeth comfortably and discreetly.
And don’t forget to practise consistent oral hygiene habits every day – not just before your date. Fresh breath is easier to achieve and maintain if you make good-for-you decisions. So remember, on your next date night, choose the right food, smile confidently, and maybe even seal it with a kiss.
References:
Aylıkçı, B. U., & Çolak, H. (2013). Halitosis: From diagnosis to management. Journal of Natural Science, Biology, and Medicine, 4(1), 14.
D’Agostino, S., Limongelli, L., Favia, G., & Dolci, M. (2021). Halitosis Awareness among Italian Dentists, Hygienists and Students. International Journal of Dentistry and Oral Health, 7(2).
Dry Mouth. (2019, May). National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
Heboyan, A., Avetisyan, A., & Vardanyan, A. (2019). Halitosis as an Issue of Social and Psychological Significance. Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science, 7(4).
Kim, S. Y., Sim, S., Kim, S., Park, B., & Choi, H. G. (2015). Prevalence and associated factors of subjective halitosis in Korean adolescents. PLOS ONE, 10(10), e0140214.
Mark, A. M. (2015). Targeting bad breath. Journal of the American Dental Association, 146(12), 932.
Mark, A. M. (2021). Controlling bad breath. Journal of the American Dental Association, 152(7), 582.
Verma, R. K., G.S, M., & Biir, M. S. M. (2018). Halitosis – I Love Bad Breath Said No One Ever!! – A Review. International Journal of Research and Review, 5(12).
