How to get rid of the smell of garlic from your breath?

Does your breath smell of garlic? Some delicious dishes necessarily contain garlic or onions, however, unpleasant smells after eating them can linger on the tongue for a very long time, and even after the meal is finished. No amount of mint candies can save you from this "flavor". What really causes such an unpleasant smell after eating food with garlic, and how to get rid of it?

Experts say that the reason for this is the remnants of odorous substances in the mouth or their molecules in saliva or on the oral mucosa. Spicy foods like garlic or onions can have an even longer lasting effect because the molecules associated with that smell and taste can enter the bloodstream and circulate through the body for a long time. Once in the blood, these molecules can penetrate the intercellular membranes and enter saliva and sweat, spreading an unpleasant taste and odor for a long time. Components of these substances from the blood return to the mouth through the lungs and throat, thereby prolonging the stench. Their penetrating power is so strong that even the amniotic fluid of pregnant women can smell different if they consume garlic.

The main problem is finely chopped raw garlic and onions. When you cut or crush garlic or onions, the vegetable cells are destroyed and enzymes are released from them, which are designed to protect these vegetables from being eaten by herbivores. It is these enzymes that give onions and garlic their pungent scalding properties.

So how can you get rid of bad smell and aftertaste of garlic? The first thing to do is to brush your teeth or floss, as these will physically remove food remains from your mouth. But if the molecules have already entered the bloodstream, then no toothbrush will fully restore the freshness of your breath, and you will smell of garlic for some time.

You can try to neutralize the odor with other aromas or flavors, but there is always the risk of creating an even more unpleasant mixture.

You can try eating something. For example, one study in 2016 found that apples, as well as mint and lettuce leaves are the best foods to get rid of the unpleasant smell of onions and garlic because they contain substances that can counteract bad smelling substances in your blood. ... Consuming milk and parsley may also help.

If all of the above does not have an effect, then you will have to wait. Moreover, for different people, this time can vary up to several hours. It depends on how well you chew the food, how quickly your stomach releases it into the intestines, and how quickly it passes through the intestines.

And, as in most cases, prevention is the best cure. Heat-treated onions and garlic lose the potency of their enzymes, and the unpleasant smell after eating them will not bother you.