Milk breath. Cheese mouth. The sour stench of worst-date nightmares. What the heck is this foul demon odour and how does one exorcise bad breath after dairy consumption?
First, you have to understand your enemy. You probably don’t think about your mouth this way, but it’s technically part of your digestive tract. Chewing is only the first step of digestion.
Related: Why You Have Bad Breath & And How to Get Rid of It
“Imagine millions of bacteria feasting on particles of food and tissue in our mouth, some giving off smelly waste,” says Dr David Krol, former chair of the American Academy of Paediatrics Section on Oral Health.
As those microbes work to digest milk solids (lactose, proteins, and lipids), they sometimes create excess hydrogen sulphide.
This is why you have bad breath after dairy consumption.
So what can you do about it?
While you can’t eliminate the smell completely, you can control the aroma by targeting what Dr. Krol refers to as the biggest culprits: gram-negative bacteria.
Related: How Risky These Everyday Habits Are To Your Health
This family of bacteria (which also includes E. coli and chlamydia, by the way) takes shelter below your gum line, between your gums and teeth, and between the grooves of your tongue.
Unfortunately for those who like to swish and spit, mouthwash doesn’t help the gram-negative bacteria situation—and can actually make it worse.
Mouthwash kills all bacteria (not just the stinky kind), which may lead to even worse breath.
Related: Masturbating, Breathing & More: 25 Simple Habits That Can Make You Healthy
To get rid of the gram-negative bacteria, Dr. Krol says to brush with a fluoridated toothpaste at least twice a day and, if you have particularly nasty exhalations, after every meal.
Make sure you’re brushing in the places the bacteria live and pick up an inexpensive tongue scraper too. Flossing also helps.
Basically, good oral hygiene can help fight bad breath after dairy consumption.
The best news? You don’t have to give up eating cheese.
