May Treat Bad Breath and Prevent Cavities

Cardamom has long been used to alleviate foul breath and enhance dental health. After a meal, several cultures recommend eating whole cardamom pods to refresh your breath. Wrigley, a chewing gum company, utilizes spice in one of its products. Cardamom's ability to prevent common oral bacteria may explain why it can cause minty fresh breath. According to one study, cardamom extracts were efficient in combating five germs that cause tooth cavities. In certain test-tube settings, the extracts inhibited bacterial growth by up to 0.82 inches (2.08 cm).

According to additional studies, cardamom extract can lower the number of bacteria in saliva samples by 54%. However, because all of these investigations were conducted in test tubes, it is uncertain how the findings may relate to humans.