Garlic has a lot of great health benefits, but for some people, the taste and odor of garlic can be a turnoff. If you’re one of these people, here are a few ways that you can get rid of garlic breath in no time.
1. Brush your teeth regularly and floss correctly to remove the bacteria that are responsible for a bad smell on your breath.
Many times, a bad smell in your mouth is caused by the accumulation of plaque on your teeth. A regular brushing routine, combined with flossing, can help to remove these particles, reducing the odor of garlic in your mouth.
2. Chew on peppermint leaves or gum to freshen your breath and mask the taste of garlic.
While chewing on gum or mints can help you get rid of the odor, it is important to remember that these are only temporary solutions. Since the odor of garlic is caused by volatile compounds that are released in your bloodstream when you eat it, these will not be completely eliminated from your system in the long run.
3. Rinse your mouth with a mouthwash that has strong agents for removing plaque and other debris on your teeth.
Mouthwashes that contain chlorine dioxide can effectively flush away food residue and bacteria, helping to remove the odour from your mouth. You can even add essential oils to your mouthwash to enhance its freshness and antibacterial properties. You can also use mouthwashes with peppermint flavored alcohol to help you get rid of garlic breath quickly.
4. Besides toothpaste, try consuming fresh fruits and vegetables such as apples, lettuce and mint leaves after a meal that is high in garlic.
Fruits and vegetables such as apples, strawberries, pears, carrots and cucumbers have a natural antibacterial property that can help you get rid of odor-causing bacteria in your mouth. These foods have also been shown to significantly decrease the levels of odiferous compounds in your breath.
5. Make your own mouthwash with essential oil and a carrier oil
If you don’t have access to a store-bought mouthwash that has strong agents, you can easily make your own using an essential oil of your choice along with a carrier oil. Some popular essential oils that are known to remove a variety of odours include rosemary, eucalyptol, and peppermint.
6. Avoid eating raw garlic and onions.
Although onions and garlic can be good for you, they are also very powerful odour producers. These ingredients release several sulfur-containing compounds when they’re chopped, including allyl methyl sulfide and diallyl disulfide, which can cause a foul odor in your mouth.
7. Use a tongue scraper to get rid of the garlic particles in your mouth after a meal that is high in these ingredients.
The sulfur-containing compounds in garlic, such as allyl methyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide and cysteine sulfoxide, are able to stick around in your mouth for hours after you have eaten them, creating a foul odor that can be quite off-putting.
