Apples against bad breath

10-2-2026

What do you do to suppress bad breath? You take a piece of chewing gum, peppermint or … an apple. According the dentists an apple is a natural alternative that is as effective as chewing gum or peppermint and is quite a bit healthier.  

The crispy texture of an apple operates as a mini toothbrush. While chewing, the flesh of the apple and the skin as it were scrub food residue and dental plaque from your teeth and gum edges. This results not only in clean teeth, but also in a fresher breath. In addition, chewing on an apple stimulates the production of saliva. Saliva provides a natural mouth rinse. It flushes food residue and bacteria that otherwise cause nasty smells. Moreover, it results in a smaller risk of tooth decay and inflammation of the gums. 

Appels are full of mouth-friendly substances 

By nature, apples contain vitamin C, fibres and antibacterial substances that curb the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Apples have a two-fold effect: they operate both mechanically (by chewing) and biologically (by reducing bacterial growth). Moreover, apples contain natural sugars, that, provided they are consumed in moderation, are much more friendly to teeth than the added sugars in chewing gum, for instance. 

In addition to a fresh breath, an apple does other things for the mouth as well. Firm chewing stimulates blood flow in the gums, which helps to keep the gums healthy. And because apples are rich in fibres, they also have a positive effect on digestion and blood sugar. (Source: gezondnu.nl)