How to Get Rid of Garlic Breath

You may think you know what causes garlic breath and how to get rid of it. However, did you know that garlic breath comes from your lungs and not your mouth? There is only one cure for garlic breath but several methods are believed to reduce the severity of garlic breath and others are capable of masking it.

• Garlic has many health benefits and one major drawback: garlic breath.The New York Times: Unlocking the Benefits of Garlic (October 15, 2007) Of course, you could always avoid eating garlic, which is guaranteed to prevent this from occurring. That would mean giving up most Italian foods. Not to mention that this could lead to a rise in vampire attacks (well, maybe not). Either way, it is much simpler to understand what causes (besides eating garlic) and how to get rid of garlic breath.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

• There is only one cure for garlic breath: time.MSN Health & Fitness: Get Rid of Garlic Breath In order to understand why, you need to understand what causes garlic breath.

1. Garlic contains an ingredient called allicin.
2. When you eat garlic, allicin breaks down into hydrogen sulfide.The Sun: Garlic is Lifesaver (October 16, 2007)
3. Hydrogen sulfide is the same compound that gives rotten eggs its smell.The New York Times: Unlocking the Benefits of Garlic (October 15, 2007)
4. Our bodies get rid of hydrogen sulfide by exhaling it.The Sun: Garlic is Lifesaver (October 16, 2007)

• In other words, garlic breath comes from your lungs and not your mouth. The odor will not go away until the garlic has passed through your body.WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath This process can take up to 72 hours.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath The strength and duration of the odor depends on the individual.USA WEEKEND Magazine: Science 101: Garlic

• Time is the only effective cure for garlic breath. However, there are some effective methods of neutralizing garlic odor. These methods may help reduce the severity of garlic breath or the duration of it.

1. Parsley: Chewing on fresh parsley has been a long time remedy for bad breath. It is believed to work because it has high levels of chlorophyll that helps rid the body of toxins (such as hydrogen sulfide).Wellsphere: Natural Alternatives to Altoids
2. Fresh herbs: Herbs such as peppermint, coriander, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary and cardamom are also reported to work similarly to the way parsley does.Wellsphere: Natural Alternatives to Altoids Simply pop a sprig in your mouth and chew.
3. Lemons: Lemon juice is often used to remove garlic odor off the hands. Many people also believe it can be used to help eliminate garlic breath by chewing on the peels.ReadersDigest.com: Garlic: The Herbal "Wonder Drug"
4. Yogurt: Eating 6 ounces of yogurt has been proven to reduced the levels of hydrogen sulfide in the mouth.WebMD: Yogurt: An Antidote to Bad Breath?
5. Green Tea: Green tea can reduce the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the mouth.Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology: Effect of Green Tea on Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Mouth Air
6. Cardamom seeds: Chewing on cardamom seeds is supposed to work as well as parsley.Start Cooking: Curing Garlic Breath and Hands
7. Fennel seeds: Fennel seeds, which are often served at Indian restaurants, are reported to neutralize the smell of garlic.The New York Times: Unlocking the Benefits of Garlic (October 15, 2007)

• When all else fails, your only option is to find a way to mask your garlic breath. Things listed here will only be effective for a couple of hours and will need to be repeated as long as the garlic breath continues.Start Cooking: Curing Garlic Breath and Hands

1. Brush your teeth: According to Dr. Rob at MSN Health & Fitness, you should brush your teeth for at least two to three minutes.MSN Health & Fitness: Get Rid of Garlic Breath
2. Mouthwashes: Using a mouthwash can help mask bad breath odor, according to the American Dental Association.ADA.org: Oral Health Topics: Bad Breath (Halitosis) Try to find one that contains essential oils such as tea tree oil, peppermint oil or lemon oil that will help reduce volatile sulfur compounds in your mouth.About.com: Home Remedies for Bad Breath
3. Chewing gum: Chewing gum can also help mask garlic odors.MSN Health & Fitness: Get Rid of Garlic Breath
4. Breath mints: According to WebMD, breath mints will also temporarily mask bad breath odors.WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath

• Time is the only way to get rid of garlic breath. However, by reducing it as much as you can until it is gone, you will be make sure you keep from offending people around you. In the meantime, go ahead and check out Mahalo's pages on Italian food, how to make garlic butter and how to make pizza. If you're going to have garlic breath, you may as well enjoy it.