Yogurt helps improve bad breath

Yogurt intake might be helpful in improving oral hygiene, namely tongue coating bacteria and battling against Halitosis (bad breath). People who consumed 90 grams of yogurt twice a day for six weeks tended to have lower levels of hydrogen sulphide and other volatile sulphide compounds that contribute to bad breath. Previous studies have pointed to the benefits of regular yogurt consumption. One report found that women who ate yogurt at least three times a week were less likely to develop urinary tract infection as compared to women who ate probiotic bacteria-containing foods less than once a week.

Other studies have found that yogurt plays a role in the prevention and management of bowel disease and other gastrointestinal conditions. Another study showed that people who eat yogurt regularly might have a lower risk of cavities.Researchers from the Tsurumi University in Yokohama, Japan studied 24 participants who were told to maintain a diet free of yogurt as well as cheese, pickled vegetables and any other products that might contain streptococci and lactobacilli.

The participants then consumed sugar-free yogurt fermented with streptococci and lactobacilli twice daily between breakfast and lunch and between lunch and dinner for six weeks. Afterwards, the investigators analysed samples collected from the study participants' saliva and tongue.They found that 80 per cent of the study participants identified as having halitosis had lower levels of volatile sulfide compounds after eating yogurt every day as compared with the earlier two-week period when they did not eat any yogurt. The participants also had significantly less plaque and gingivitis as a result of their eating yogurt.
The findings suggest that yogurt intake may reduce the components leading to halitosis and harmful bacteria. The researching team has not yet determined how or why yogurt consumption had such an effect on halitosis.

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