How To Get Rid Of Garlic Breath

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Garlic has been a culinary staple for thousands of years. Many of the world's most well-known dishes contain the herb. While garlic may be a crucial part of your next meal, you may feel self-conscious afterwards due to its effect on your breath. Fortunately, there are many solutions to quickly get your breath under control.

Here's how to get rid of that lingering garlic breath after one of your favourite meals.

1. Brush Your Teeth

Brushing your teeth with toothpaste removes the smelly food particles from your teeth, which will help make your breath smell better. Don't forget to brush your tongue because garlic odours may linger there as well.

You can still brush your teeth when you're on the go, as long as you plan ahead. Get into the habit of carrying a spare toothbrush and toothpaste with you – or storing them in your desk drawer at work – so that you can easily slip into a toilet to freshen your breath.

2. Swish with Mouthwash

After eating foods that contain garlic, the garlicky scent is known to linger in your breath. A strong scent, like a minty mouthwash, can help cover up this smell until it goes away on its own.

After eating a garlicky meal, swish with a rinse to immediately mask the smell. If you're a garlic lover, you may want to carry a travel-sized bottle of mouthwash in your bag to make sure it's always within reach whenever you need it.

3. Drink Green Tea

Green tea can make a great post-meal respite. Not only does green tea support healthy digestion, but it's also been shown to be effective at reducing odour-causing compounds in your mouth, according to Healthline in the United States.

4. Eat Parsley

Parsley is one of the more popular home remedies for bad breath. Today, parsley is still often used to garnish plates at your favourite Western restaurant to help with those post-meal odours.

While claims of parsley's odour-fighting properties continue to persist, studies have shown parsley to have little effect on getting rid of garlic breath, according to Medical News Today, a medical news and information website in the United States. Instead, parsley's strong scent masks bad breath - giving you a bit of post-meal peace of mind.

5. Drink Milk

Surprisingly, you can also get your garlic breath under control by drinking milk. A study published in the Journal of Food Science in the United States reports that milk significantly reduces the concentrations of garlic's odorous compounds.

Knowing the best ways to get rid of garlic breath can give you the confidence to indulge in your next garlic-heavy meal. Just be sure to keep these tips in mind and be prepared next time you feel self-conscious about your garlic breath.