Garlic breath is caused by the breakdown of sulfur compounds contained in garlic. Let’s learn some easy hacks that will help you get rid of garlic breath quickly.
Getting rid of both garlic and onion breath is a problem many people face. When it comes to food, there are two substances that, when eaten raw, can easily cause bad breath: garlic and onions. Garlic is a member of the allium family. This means that it has high amounts of sulfur.
“Sulfur compounds in garlic are released not only in the mouth but also in the gut, from which they seep into the lungs and skin,” says Victor Sierpina, MD.
Learn how to get rid of garlic breath with these hacks!
Garlic can continue to cause bad breath for hours after you eat it. However, this doesn’t mean that you should avoid eating it. Not only is it tasty, but it also has many health benefits. You just need to know the ways to get rid of garlic breath, and you should be okay.
Here you have some hacks:
Hack #1: Eat fresh vegetables and fruits.
If you know before-hand that you are going to eat a garlic-heavy meal, then you need to balance it out. For example, you can eat apples for dessert, or simply chew on fresh mint leaves! Several studies have shown that the chemical composition of apples, mint or even lettucecan easily subdue garlic breath.
“Eating fresh produce with or after meals may cover up the smells of garlic and onion”, said Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D., RN, CRNA.
Hack #2: Brush and floss once you eat.
One of the main reasons why you get garlic breath is that you have residues of garlic in your mouth. The bacteria build up in your gum and teeth. This causes bad breath.
The simplest way to get rid of garlic breath is to just brush and floss after you eat. By doing this, you can keep your breath fresher for an extended period of time.
Hack #3: Mustard.
Mustard is a great fix to garlic breath. It contains turmeric, which prevents and eliminates bad breath altogether. If you ate garlic and you don’t want to get garlic breath, just take 1 teaspoon of mustard and roll it around your mouth for at least 30 seconds.
Then you can spit it out. To finish it up, swallow ½ teaspoon. This will fight the garlic sulfur compound that is transported by your bloodstream to your lungs.
Hack #4: Chlorine dioxide mouthwash.
There is extensive scientific evidence that mouthwashes which contain chlorine dioxide are effective for bad breath. Chlorine dioxide can help remove any plaque, bacteria and food particle that is lingering in your mouth. For this reason, this household item can help you get rid of that nasty garlic breath.
Hack #5: Chew parsley.
Parsley is a herb that is effective against garlic breath for a number of reasons. It contains high levels of chlorophyll which acts as a natural and efficient breath freshener. Plus, it has great antibacterial properties which come in handy when eliminating oral and other body odors right at their source.
Remember to chew fresh parsley because dried parsley has no active chlorophyll.
Hack #6: Try essential oils.
Essential oils are efficient to fight off garlic breath. You can make your very own mouthwash with essential oils at home. Just get a bunch of peppermint, rosemary, myrrh or eucalyptus oil. Then swish 1 teaspoon of carrier oil with a drop of any of those essential oils and put it in your mouth.
Hack #7: Drink milk.
Do you want the ultimate hack that will help you get rid of garlic breath fast? Just open your fridge and get some milk.
“The water [in the milk] acts as a mouth rinse, and the fat neutralizes sulfur,” says Kantha Shelke, Ph.D., spokesperson for the Institute of Food Technologists.
According to studies, the combination of water and fat has the ability to neutralize any oral odor. Just drink a glass of milk after eating garlic, and you are good to go.
Hack #8: Chew coffee beans.
Coffee beans have compounds that possess antibacterial properties. This is useful when struggling with bacteria that cause bad breath. So, just chew some roasted coffee beans and get ready to get rid of that nasty garlic breath.
Hack #9: Drink diluted apple cider vinegar.
It contains pectin which encourages the growth of good bacteria. Drinking 1 or 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water (before eating garlic) will help with the breakdown of garlic byproducts faster than normal.
Hack #10: Eat cold foods.
Garlic breath intensifies if you eat hot food. Therefore, after you have eaten garlic, you could switch to cold foods like ice cream and frozen yogurt which are excellent when fighting garlic breath.
Conclusion:
Now you have an arsenal of easy hacks at your disposal. If you didn’t know what to do with your terrible garlic breath, now you can choose your favorite hack to get rid of it. Don’t let garlic breath bring you down anymore.
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