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Magnolia bark can take bite out of bad breath
Last updated at 15:22pm on 20.11.07
Flossing can also improve foul smelling breath
Research shows that extract of magnolia bark has powerful anti-bacterial properties, swiftly dispatching the bugs behind halitosis.
In tests, the compound - a favourite remedy of Chinese herbalists - was as effective as Listerine mouthwash at freshening the breath.
Added to mints, it killed almost 20 times as many foul-smelling bacteria as the mints alone.
Such a bug-busting capacity puts it on par with commercially available mouthwashes.
The US researchers looked at how the extract affected the bacteria in the mouths of a group of healthy adults shortly after eating lunch.
The men and women were asked to give a sample of saliva before and after eating mint sweets, some of which had been laced with magnolia bark extract.
Tests on the saliva showed a vast reduction in two types of bacteria known to cause bad breath in those who had the supplemented mints.
Mints containing the extract quickly killed almost 63 per cent of the germs that cause bad breath, compared with a 3.6 per cent germ kill for the same mints minus the extract.
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A magnolia tree: The bark has proved effective in eliminating bad breath
The extract was also effective against a third type of bacteria known to cause dental decay, the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reports.
The researchers said: "Bad breath or halitosis is a major social and psychological problem that affects the majority of the general population.
"Magnolia bark extract demonstrated a significant antibacterial activity against organisms responsible for oral malodour and can be incorporated into mints and chewing gum for improved breath-freshening benefits."
Used by Chinese herbalists for around two thousands years, the extract of magnolia bark is purported to have a host of health benefits.
Preparations are used to treat menstrual cramps, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhoea and indigestion, as well as to ease coughing and asthma.
Wrigley's, who are researching the compound, say that added to chewing gum, it could provide a natural route to fresh breath while on the move.
While many people already use gum to freshen breath, existing varieties merely mask bad smells.
A breath-freshening gum is likely to find favour with Britons, who chew their way through more than 900 million packets of the stuff each year.
Meanwhile, the world's first non-stick chewing gum could be on the market early next year.
Washed off pavements by rain alone, the Bristol University gum could save millions in cleaning costs - as well as the inconvenience of having to scrape blobs of discarded gum off shoes, clothing and even hair.
