As we all know, garlic is a staple ingredient in many recipes and cuisines around the world. Unfortunately, as delicious as it may be, garlic doesn’t smell as nice as its taste. If you’re planning on getting intimate with someone soon after eating garlic-heavy food or if you’ve accidentally eaten something garlicky, this article will provide some tips to help get rid of garlic breath.
What causes garlic breath?
Garlic contains sulfuric compounds, which can be absorbed by our lungs when we breathe. These compounds are released in our breath when we exhale. The more garlicky your meal was, the stronger your breath smells. You can’t completely prevent any bad odors that come out of your mouth; however, there are some things that you can do to reduce garlicky smells.
How to avoid or remove garlic breath
Chew on parsley or mint leaves
Parsley is an herb that doesn’t taste like much by itself; however, chewing on it after meals has been shown to be an effective way to decrease bad breath. Mint leaves also work well in the same way. Chewing something green and fresh helps mask any lingering odors coming from your mouth. Drinking water washes away the compounds responsible for garlic breath One of the best ways to get rid of garlic breath is drinking plenty of water. As you drink more fluids, your saliva production goes up. More saliva means more enzymes breaking down food particles and whisking them away before they have a chance to come out in your breath or cause tooth decay .
Bite on an apple
Apples are an ideal snack to eat after having something garlicky because they too contain sulfuric compounds. The compounds in the apple will mix with those from the garlic and cancel each other out, leaving no smell behind.
Avoid smoking
Smoking makes garlic breath worse. This one may seem a bit counter intuitive, but smoking increases the amount of sulfur compounds that can come out of your body. Smoking also decreases saliva production, which means that fewer enzymes are able to whisk away any food particles that might cause bad breath. If you smoke and really want to get rid of garlic breath, make sure not to smoke for at least 20 minutes after eating anything garlicky. Brush after eating something garlicky The simplest way to reduce the odor in your mouth is by brushing your teeth immediately after eating anything garlicky. The toothbrush will help scrub away any bits of food left behind before they have time to be absorbed into the bloodstream or break down in your mouth.
Drink water
Drinking plenty of water will help wash away much of the odor-causing chemicals in your mouth.
Brush your teeth
Brushing your teeth immediately after eating something garlicky is a simple way to scrub away any bits left over from food particles that be causing bad breath.
But also remember the upsides
While it may be tempting to only worry about how garlic will affect your breath, don’t forget that eating certain foods can have effects on all aspects of your body and mind. Garlic has been used for centuries as an effective treatment for colds and wounds because of its antibacterial properties. It also helps reduce cholesterol levels and treat high blood pressure . If you choose not to eat garlic because of its odor, make sure you appreciate the surprising health benefits it provides.
