1) Water. Proper hydration could be all you need for better breath, Amy Jamieson-Petonic, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says. That's because water moistens the mouth and throat, and washes away nasty-smelling bacteria and food particles.
2) Apples. Crunchy, high-fiber foods make the mouth generate more saliva, Jamieson-Petonic says. CNN reported that saliva is rich in oxygen -- a natural enemy of odor-causing bacteria in the mouth. And apples in particular help to remove plaque and particles from teeth, which can also be the source of bad breath, she says.
3) Gum. While this one is a no-brainer, there's a reason why gum is the go-to for banishing bad breath: it stimulates the production of saliva (bacteria's enemy, as you'll recall) and removes food particles that get stuck on the teeth. Opt for the sugar-free types with xylitol to protect your teeth from cavities, Jamieson-Petonic says.
4) Foods high in Vitamin C. Vitamin C can stop odor-causing bacteria from growing, and neutralize the odors from notoriously smelly foods like garlic and onions, notes Jamieson-Petonic.
5) Greek yogurt. Not just a healthy snack, yogurt can also be good for breath. It "lowers hydrogen sulfide in mouth, which is a waste product from anaerobic bacteria," Jamieson-Petonic says. She recommends yogurt low in sugar -- preferably a non-fat Greek yogurt -- with live and active cultures.
6) Whole-grain bread. As strange as it may seem, eating a low-carb diet can lead to less-than-stellar breath. That's because when your body doesn't have a lot of carbohydrates, it instead burns fat -- a process that then produces compounds called ketones. When these ketones are produced, they are released from the body via sweat, urine and sometimes even the breath. That means if your body is expelling odor-causing ketones, eating healthy carbs -- such as whole-grain bread, versus something like white bread -- could help to improve breath, Jamieson-Petonic says.
7) Cinnamon. There's a reason why so many gums are cinnamon-flavored! Cinnamon essential oil has been shown in research to kill odor-causing bacteria.
8) Flavonoids, the good-for-you antioxidants in vegetables and green tea, are also useful for keeping bacteria from sticking on to your teeth, Jamieson-Petonic notes.