These Unexpected Holiday Foods Give You The Worst Breath, According To Dentists

As the holidays are rapidly approaching, dentists have issued a warning to partygoers about the festive foods and drinks that will give you the worst breath – and shared tips on how to combat the stinky problem.

Of course, holiday parties and Christmas celebrations often come with elaborate food spreads and dishes to snack on.

But now, dentists have shared the most egregious offenders that will leave you with bad breath… and some are pretty unexpected.

‘Many holiday foods cause bad breath, not because they smell strong, but because of how they change the chemistry of the mouth,’ Dr. Jonathan B. Levine, DMD, Founder of Smile House & GLO Science, told the Daily Mail.

‘Cheese and other dairy products are a big one. Dairy proteins break down into sulfur compounds when oral bacteria digest them, which is one of the main causes of persistent bad breath,’ Dr. Levine continued.

Interestingly enough, holiday desserts can be perpetrators for smelly breath, too.

‘Sugary treats fuel odor-producing bacteria, especially when sugar sticks around between teeth or near the gums,’ Dr. Levine explained.

‘Dried fruits like dates, figs and raisins are particularly problematic because they’re both sticky and high in sugar, giving bacteria time to thrive.’

Dr. Crystal MarrugantiDMD at Harley Street Dental Studio in London, echoed the sentiment about sugary foods.

In particular, she pointed out the fact that sometimes, eating a sweet mint to freshen your breath can actually have the opposite effect.

‘If you think that a nice sugary mint after a long meal could save you from bad breath, think again!’ Dr. Marruganti said to the Daily Mail.

‘Sugary mints can have a drying effect reducing the amount of saliva in the mouth, hence reducing its ability of to “clean away” the bad bacteria causing the bad breath.’

She also warned partygoers about foods that contain high levels of acidity, like tomato sauce, which can feed bacteria in your mouth.

And starchy foods like bread, stuffing and crackers can also lead to smelly breath, Dr. Levine said.

‘Starches quickly break down into simple sugars in the mouth and increase acidity, which creates an environment where bad-breath bacteria grow easily,’ he explained.

But unfortunately, it isn’t just the food that you have to worry about – there are also a handful of drinks that can have people leaning away from you at the dinner table.

Alcohol appears to be an especially large culprit for foul-smelling breath.

‘Champagne, wine and cocktails all dry out the mouth by reducing saliva flow, which allows odor-causing bacteria to flourish,’ Dr. Levine said.

‘Wine and champagne are also acidic, which further disrupts the oral microbiome.’

Dr. Marruganti agreed, saying that this can also occur with sugary or fizzy drinks.

Dr. Levine recommended alternating each alcoholic drink with water and using an alkalinizing mouthwash after.

He shared that this can help ‘neutralize acidity’ and ‘support saliva production,’ while also preventing bad breath the next day.

‘Hydration also matters than people realize,’ Dr. Levine added.

‘Saliva is the body’s natural defense against bad breath. When the mouth is dry, bacteria multiply faster.

‘Drinking water throughout the day and breathing through your nose instead of your mouth helps maintain moisture and balance.’

And, of course, the basic dental hygiene steps, like brushing and flossing, are essential for fresh breath and a clean mouth.

‘Brushing and flossing are essential, but tongue cleaning is often overlooked,’ Dr. Levine said.

‘A large percentage of odor-causing bacteria live on the tongue. Cleaning it regularly can dramatically reduce bad breath, especially during indulgent holiday eating.’