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Banish Bad Breath Caused by Garlic Without Brushing Your Teeth

Garlic, a spice found in many dishes that enhances the flavor, but it comes at a cost to your breath

23 April, 2024

Garlic is an indispensable ingredient in many Vietnamese dishes such as vermicelli soup, rice noodles, pho, rolls, stir-fries, etc. While garlic enhances the flavor and stimulates the appetite, its pungent smell can be a nuisance, especially when dining out. It is not always convenient to brush your teeth, use mouthwash, or even brush your teeth afterwards since brushing only cleans your mouth but the garlic smell can still emanate from your breath due to the garlic vapor emanating from the lungs.

The following methods can help you eliminate garlic odor more effectively:

Garlic enhances the flavor of dishes but can leave you with an unpleasant breath odor

Drink a glass of whole milk

Milk has the ability to neutralize the smell of garlic. Therefore, immediately buy a carton of fresh milk and drink it after eating. Take small sips and swallow slowly to minimize the garlic smell in your mouth and respiratory tract.

Use fresh lemon

Fresh lemon is rich in polyphenols, substances that can break down the pungent compounds in garlic. The citric acid in lemon also has mouth-cleansing properties, helping to eliminate garlic odor more effectively. Take a slice of lemon and chew on it, including the peel. The essential oils in lemon are more effective at odor removal than lemon juice alone.

Fresh lemon is a great way to combat garlic odor

Drink black coffee

Strong black coffee is another way to eliminate odors and freshen breath. When finished eating, order a cup of coffee to reduce the unpleasant smell of garlic.

Chew gum

Chewing gum is also very effective in eliminating garlic odor due to its peppermint essential oils. Using peppermint gum will remove the odor more quickly.

Chew on some herbs

Herbs such as basil and cilantro contain fragrant essential oils that can help reduce the smell of garlic. They also help clean the mouth and will “coat” the stomach to reduce the intensity of garlic breath. Chew a few sprigs of these herbs after eating garlic.

Apples help reduce garlic odor in the mouth

Eat an apple

Of all the fruits, apples are the most effective at reducing garlic odor. Apples contain phenolics, a substance that gives plants their aroma, which reacts directly with garlic and neutralizes its odor. Eat a few slices of apple for dessert after eating garlic.

Eat a few slices of cucumber

Cucumber is another food that helps eliminate garlic odor. Cucumbers contain a lot of water and substances that help remove the smell of garlic, so you can eat cucumbers after eating garlic to eliminate the odor.

Drink green tea, chew on tea leaves

Green tea or black tea has deodorizing and antiseptic properties. If you are a tea lover, have a cup of tea after eating garlic. You can sip and hold a few tea leaves in your mouth to enhance the odor-eliminating effect.

Drink plenty of water

Drinking plenty of water helps dilute the garlic odor and helps your body eliminate it more quickly.

If you are at home, use a cup of vinegar water to rinse your mouth and brush your teeth to further reduce the garlic smell. When cooking at home, remove the garlic core to reduce its pungency.

Frequently asked questions

While garlic adds a lot to a dish, its pungent smell can be off-putting and linger in the mouth and on the breath. This is especially noticeable when dining out, as it’s not always convenient to brush your teeth or use mouthwash afterward.

There are several effective methods to combat garlic breath: drinking whole milk, which neutralizes the smell; chewing on fresh lemon slices, which contain polyphenols that break down garlic compounds; drinking strong black coffee; and chewing gum with peppermint essential oils.

Yes, fresh herbs such as basil and cilantro contain fragrant essential oils that can help reduce the smell of garlic. Chewing on a few sprigs after a garlic-heavy meal can help, as can eating an apple, which contains phenolics that react with and neutralize garlic odor.

Cucumbers are a great natural remedy, as they contain a lot of water and substances that help remove the smell of garlic. Drinking green tea or black tea can also help, thanks to their deodorizing and antiseptic properties. Finally, drinking plenty of water helps dilute and eliminate garlic odor from your body.