Tips to eliminate bad breath after eating onions and garlic

Garlic and onions are essential ingredients in many dishes, enhancing the flavor of food, fighting cancer, protecting heart health and having many other benefits. However, they leave bad breath after every meal.

Please save the following ways to remove bad breath after eating garlic and onions so you can use them when needed.

Eat fresh fruits and vegetables

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables with or after meals can help mask the taste of garlic and onions. Researchers have found that raw apples or lettuce can significantly reduce the smell of garlic on the breath.

If you have a meal that includes a lot of garlic, eat an apple for dessert or chew on fresh mint leaves. Eating an apple is one of the most effective ways to get rid of bad breath after eating garlic, helping to freshen your breath. This is because the natural enzymes in apples break down the sulfur compounds in onions.

Drinking water

Drinking water after meals helps wash away residues like garlic and onions that may be stuck on your tongue or between your teeth. It also helps stimulate saliva production, which is helpful in removing some of the odor-causing bacteria from your mouth.

Drink milk

A glass of milk with or after a meal containing garlic can reduce the levels of sulfur compounds that cause bad breath in your mouth. Studies have shown that whole milk is more effective than low-fat milk at reducing the smell of garlic.

Drink green tea

A cup of hot green tea at the end of a meal will also help freshen your breath and eliminate unpleasant odors caused by onions and garlic. Foreign studies have shown that green tea is more effective in eliminating bad breath than mints and chewing gum. Not only that, green tea also brings many other health benefits as well as anti-aging effects.

Another study found that mouthwash containing catechins, the beneficial compounds in green tea, can reduce plaque just as well as mouthwash.

Drink lemon water

Lemon juice can help neutralize the smell of onions or garlic. After a meal containing onions or garlic, drink a glass of fresh lemon juice to neutralize the smell and reap the health benefits.

You can also rinse your mouth with lemon juice two to three times a day. A teaspoon of lemon juice mixed in a glass of water will help neutralize bad breath caused by onions. The citric acid in lemons has antibacterial properties that can kill the bacteria that cause bad breath.

Note: Do not leave citric acid on your teeth as its high acidity can contribute to enamel erosion and tooth decay.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains pectin, which promotes the growth of good bacteria. Drinking a spoonful of apple cider vinegar (diluted) is an effective way to eliminate bad breath after eating garlic or onions, and also aids digestion. You can also use apple cider vinegar to rinse your mouth for 10 to 15 seconds after eating, like a mouthwash.

Brush your teeth and floss

Most of the bacteria that cause bad breath live below the gum line and in the plaque that builds up on your teeth, causing bad breath. Practicing good brushing habits after meals and flossing will not only significantly reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth, but will also eliminate bad breath.

Mouthwash

Strong mouthwashes containing mint — a popular product on the market — can mask the smell of garlic or onion on your breath.

Some studies have also shown that using a mouthwash containing chlorine dioxide can effectively remove plaque, bacteria, and small food particles.

Chew gum

In addition to masking unpleasant odors while on the go, mint-flavored gum also stimulates saliva production, which is great for washing away bacteria and food debris.

According to the American Dental Association, chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after meals can also help reduce the risk of tooth decay.

Take out the garlic core.

Cut each clove of garlic in half and remove the stem in the middle, this also reduces the garlic flavor that lingers in your mouth after each meal.

According to VTC