This article was co-authored by Carlotta Butler, RN, MPH. Carlotta Butler is a Registered Nurse in Arizona. Carlotta is a member of the American Medical Writers Association. She received her Masters of Public Health from the Northern Illinois University in 2004 and her Masters in Nursing from the University of St. Francis in 2017.
There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Onion and garlic are delicious and popular ingredients that can greatly enhance a dish. Garlic, in particular, has also been linked to possible health benefits, including everything from the treatment of athlete’s foot to reducing the risk of certain types of cancer. However, both onions and garlic can cause bad breath. When a clove of garlic or onion is chopped or crushed, the compound allyl methyl sulfide (among others) is released; when ingested, this compound is absorbed into the bloodstream and can cause your sweat and breath to smell for a full day afterward.[1] [2] However, there are some strategies you can try to fight bad breath caused by onion and garlic.
Steps
Fighting Onion/Garlic Breath With Food
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1Eat fruits. The same properties that cause oxidation in fruits (turning their skin brown when bitten into) also fight off onion and garlic breath. Particularly effective fruits include apples, pears, plums, peaches, apricots, prunes, grapes, cherries and eggplants.[3]
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2Eat vegetables. Particular vegetables are very effective in fighting the compounds found in onions and garlic, including spinach, lettuce and potatoes. Eat these with an onion- or garlic-heavy meal.[4]Advertisement
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3Add herbs to your meal. Basil and parsley, in particular, are two of the more effective herbal antidotes to onion and garlic breath. Add these to your meal, or chew parsley afterward.[5]
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4Include bread with your meal. A deficiency in carbohydrates can contribute to bad breath, as well as have other side-effects on your health. Eating bread or other carbohydrate-rich foods will help to combat bad breath.
Fighting Onion/Garlic Breath With Drink
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1Drink green tea. Green tea contains polyphenols, plant chemicals that help to neutralize the sulphur compounds released in onions and garlic. Antioxidants in green tea are also effective in combating bad breath.[6]
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2Have a glass of milk. Milk has been shown to be effective in the fight against garlic breath. Whole milk, in particular, reduces the concentration of foul-smelling compounds in your mouth.[7]
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3Drink acidic beverages with a ph level below 3.6. Lemon, lime, grapefruit and cranberry juices, as well as many soft drinks, help to fight the odor-producing alliinase enzyme found in onions and garlic.[8]
Reducing Onion/Garlic Breath Before and After a Meal
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1Chew gum. A stick of gum after a meal encourages the production of saliva in the mouth, which fights bad breath.
- Look for gum with natural essential oils. Spearmint, peppermint and cinnamon oils have been shown to tackle foul-smelling bacteria in the mouth.[9]
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2Chew coffee beans. This might be tough to do, but chewing coffee beans and then spitting them out has been known to temper garlic breath.
- Rubbing coffee beans on your hands (and then washing them) can also help to remove the smell of onion and garlic from your skin.
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3Reduce your consumption of raw and cooked onion/garlic. If other remedies for onion and garlic breath don't seem to work, cutting down on your use of them in meals will prevent bad breath.
- If you eat garlic for its potential health benefits, you may want to substitute an odorless garlic supplement for raw garlic. Be aware that supplements come in many forms, range significantly in quality, and research into their health benefits and side-effects is ongoing.[10]
Adopting a Hygiene Remedy
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1Brush your teeth. Do this at least twice a day, for at least two minutes each session.[11] Invest in a portable toothbrush and toothpaste if you frequently consume garlic or onion.
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2Floss. Brushing on its own only cleans just over half of the surface of your teeth, and thus it is important to floss, as well.[12] You should ideally be doing this after every meal.
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3
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4Use a tongue cleaner. The filaments on your tongue trap tiny particles and bacteria; the major proportion of odor-producing bacteria are found on the tongue. Thus, when you brush your teeth, also clean your tongue with a tongue cleaner or toothbrush.
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5Use a water pick. Using an irrigator or water pick cleans food particles from around and under your gums and between your teeth. If you aren't getting foods out through the methods listed above, they are rotting and festering in your mouth; a water pick will help to remove stubborn food particles.
References
- ↑ http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/05/05/what-compounds-cause-garlic-breath-the-chemistry-of-garlic/
- ↑ http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/01/22/the-chemistry-of-an-onion/
- ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1750-3841.13439
- ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1750-3841.13439
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24592995/
- ↑ https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jnsv/54/1/54_1_89/_pdf
- ↑ https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_olink/r/1501/10?clear=10&p10_accession_num=osu1267640898
- ↑ https://scienceandfooducla.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/garlic/
- ↑ http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-05/fyi-how-does-chewing-gum-freshen-breath
- ↑ http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/food-beverages/garlic
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bad-breath/Pages/Treatment.aspx
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bad-breath/Pages/Treatment.aspx
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/embarrassingconditions/Pages/bad-breath.aspx
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bad-breath/basics/definition/CON-20014939?p=1
About This Article
To get rid of bad breath from onion or garlic, start by adding fresh fruit and bread to your strong-tasting meal, which can help combat the stinky breath that follows. Drinking milk or green tea during and after the meal can also temper the smell of garlic or onion breath. After you finish your meal, try chewing a piece of gum made with spearmint, peppermint or cinnamon oil to tackle foul-smelling oral bacteria. You can also chew on a handful of coffee beans if you need to mask bad breath in a pinch! For oral hygiene tips to help eliminate bad breath, read on!
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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