Yogurt: An Antidote to Bad Breath?
This article is from the WebMD News Archive
Yogurt: An Antidote to Bad Breath?
Forget the breath mints. Pass the yogurt.
A new study suggests that a daily dose of yogurt may keep your breath fresh and fend off offensive odors.
Researchers found that eating 6 ounces of yogurt a day reduced levels of odor-causing compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, in the mouth.
They say the results suggest that the active bacteria in yogurt, specifically Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, may have a beneficial effect on odor-causing bacteria in the mouth.
Yogurt vs. Odor-Causing Bacteria
In the study, which was presented this week at a meeting of the International Association for Dental Research in Baltimore, researchers looked at the effects of eating yogurt on bad breath and bacteria in the mouth.
Before the study began, 24 healthy volunteers were asked to avoid yogurt and other foods containing the same bacteria found in yogurt, such as cheese and pickled vegetables, for two weeks.
Researchers then took saliva and tongue coating samples to measure bacteria levels as well as odor-causing compounds, including hydrogen sulfide.
During the study, the participants ate about 3 ounces of yogurt twice daily for six weeks.
At the end of the study, researchers took samples again. They found that odiferous compounds, namely hydrogen sulfide, decreased in 80% of participants.
In addition, levels of plaque and the gum disease gingivitis were also significantly lower among yogurt eaters.
Although further studies are needed to confirm these results, researchers say the study suggests that adding yogurt to the diet may be a safe and effective way to fight bad breath.
Incoming search terms for the article:
Similar articles
- Yogurt: An Antidote to Bad Breath?
This article is from the WebMD News Archive Yogurt: An Antidote to Bad Breath? March 10, 2005 – Forget the breath mints. Pass the yogurt. A new study suggests that a daily dose of yogurt may keep your breath fresh and fend off offensive odors. Researchers found that eating 6 ounces of yogurt
... - Beat Bad Breath With 1 Cheap Item From Your Fridge
You may have heard that hydrogen sulfide (which smells like rotten eggs!) is one of the main Volatile Sulfur Compounds, or “VSCs”, produced in 85-90% of bad breath cases. In a study detailed at the 83rd General Session of the International Association for Dental Research, Dr. Kenichi Hojo of Tsurumi University in Yokohama (in Japan)
... - Can Yogurt Really Be a Bad Breath Remedy?
It seems like yogurt has been said to help or cure so many health issues that it’s hard to keep track. I’m sure you’ve heard that yogurt helps you lose weight, improves your digestive system, and is high in calcium which helps build strong bones and teeth, and also rich in vitamin C. It has
... - Natural Yogurt Beats Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Sugarless yoghurt could help beat bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease, say scientists. Japanese researchers found eating the yoghurt reduced levels of hydrogen sulphide – a major cause of bad breath – in 80% of volunteers. The key are active bacteria in yogurt, specifically Lactobacillus Bulgaricus and Streptococcus Thermophilus. Details were presented at a
... - Yogurt: Tooth Decay, Gum Disease and Bad Breath Cure
According to Japanese research, sugarless yogurt can serve as another remedy for bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. Yogurt had allegedly reduced the levels of hydrogen suphide (a primary cause of halitosis) in 80% of participants in the study conducted by the International Association for Dental Research. The plaque and gum
...