Justin Bieber eats nachos, courts bad breath

Going to the movies can be an enjoyable way to spend an evening and an efficient way to get halitosis. At the recent premier of a film documenting his life, recording artists Justin Bieber was spotted buying nachos and a Slush Puppy beverage, according to Ok! Magazine.

Bieber bought the refreshments in a velvet vest and bowtie, potentially risking cheese stains and more. The news source suggested that the singer was courting bad breath by eating such a meal.

Both food items could independently leave a mouth smelling bad. Nacho cheese, especially the kind available in movie theater lobbies, tends to be thick, runny and full of fat and grease. Cheese sauce can stick to the tongue, teeth and palate for hours, giving oral microbes plenty to work with.

If that weren't enough, some varieties of nacho cheese contain jalapenos, peppers or onions, all of which can leave sulfuric odor molecules all over the surfaces in the mouth.

Likewise, a slushy drink can contribute to halitosis in a slightly different way. While the effect is not always immediate, the sugars left behind by such beverages provide oral bacteria with a hearty meal. This results in further production of odor compounds.

The American Dental association recommends brushing the teeth at least twice a day. The addition of a specialty breath freshener may help prevent halitosis.