Do you want to get rid of graic breath quickly? If yes, you are not alone. Granted, garlic offers a lot of health benefits and has a distinct flavor that can make food delicious, but it can cause bad breath. Garlic contains sulfur compounds (Allicin, Cysteine sulfoxide, and allyl methyl sulfide) that cause bad breath when ingested.
The problem with garlic breath is that it may linger for a long time. This means that you may continue to have bad breath for many hours.
See, you don’t have to stop eating garlic because you want to avoid bad breath. This article will shed light on some easy ways to reduce and eliminate garlic breath.
Effective Ways to Get Rid of Garlic Breath
Brush and floss
Brushing your teeth after eating garlic is a great way to prevent bad breath. You see, much of the odor-causing bacteria may be below your gum line or on your teeth. Brushing and flossing will help get rid of them as well as food remains and plaque.
Be sure to use an electric or a bamboo toothbrush. Remember to brush your tongue as well as the roof of your mouth.
Flossing will help remove food (which can cause bad breath) stuck between your teeth.
Drink Green tea
Studies have shown that green tea can help reduce bad breath. Even more, it can eliminate the harmful bacteria in the mouth.
After eating a food that was made with garlic, you should drink a hot cup of green tea afterward. The green tea will help reduce the odor until you get home and brush your teeth.
Green tea mouthwash is an excellent alternative, as it is equally effective in eliminating bad breath and removing plaque.
Get rid of garlic breath by using essential oils
If your garlic breath is really bad, you should consider adding essential oils to your mouthwash (alcohol based). Essential oil has antibacterial properties and can help freshen your breath.
Below are some essential oils that are effective against bad breath
- Myrrh
- Peppermint
- Eucalyptol
- Rosemary
Note that you don’t have to add essential oil to your mouthwash. You can use them directly. Below is how to use essential oil to freshen your breath.
Add a drop of rosemary or peppermint essential oil to a teaspoon of carrier oil. Swish the mixture for a minute.
Drink enough water
Increasing your water intake is an excellent strategy to reduce garlic breath. If your mouth is dry, your bad breath will increase. Studies suggest that dry mouth can lead to the production of sulfur which causes bad breath.
Drinking more water can help rinse food particles ( which can cause bad breath) lingering in your mouth.
Eat veggies and fruits
A recent study found that eating fruits like lettuce and apples can help reduce garlic breath. Below are a few other fruits that can help address bad breath
- Melons
- Orange
- Berries
Drink a glass of lemon water
Lemon juice is also effective at reducing bad breath after a heavy garlic meal. Here is how to prepare it.
Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to a glass of water. Stir and drink.
Chewing gum is an effective way to get rid of garlic breath
Chewing gum is one of the easiest ways to reduce garlic breath. But the flavor of gum you choose matters. Minty flavor gum is more effective at masking unpleasant smells.
Chewing gum can stimulate saliva production, which goes a long way in washing down food remains and bacteria that can cause bad breath.
Drink milk
Drinking a glass of milk after eating a meal that contains garlic can help prevent bad breath afterward. The milk will drastically reduce the concentration of the compounds that cause bad breath.
Full-fat milk is more effective at reducing garlic breath than fat-free milk.
Final note
Garlic is a vegetable that can give food a unique flavor and improve our health. The bad breath caused by garlic doesn’t last forever. If you follow the suggestions listed above, you will be able to mask or eliminate the odor.
Keep in mind that all the remedies listed above may not work for you. So try out each of them to determine what works best for you.