How to remove the smell of garlic from your mouth? The most effective methods

The article was prepared by a specialist for informational purposes only. We urge you not to self-medicate. When the first symptoms appear, consult a doctor.

The smell of garlic from the mouth after eating it is felt by others for up to 3-4 days. In order not to give up an extremely healthy product, you need to know the tricks on how to get rid of the smell of garlic from your mouth.

Why does intact garlic have almost no smell?

Probably everyone is familiar with this phenomenon: a whole clove almost does not spread a specific smell around itself. However, once you cut it or bite it, the aroma spreads throughout the house. What is the reason for such a bright effect?

It's all about a special substance - allicin, contained in garlic. After cells are damaged by a cut or other injury, a chemical reaction begins, based on the combination of two substances that were previously isolated from each other. Destroyed vacuoles open the way for their interaction; as a result of the reaction, a specific odor is released.

Thanks to allicin, garlic has received a natural remedy against rodents and fungi. Mankind has known about the properties of garlic to destroy bacteria and fungi for a very long time. The protection of this vegetable from damage, provided by nature, allowed man to turn its healing qualities to his benefit.

Why is beets urine red?

Indeed, after you eat this vegetable, the effect of bituria may appear, that is, the urine will turn red. However, beets do not affect everyone in this way. I wonder what substances underlie this effect and why it is not universal?

It is not surprising that the same substances that give beets their color also turn urine red. Beets are dark red due to the presence of a class of substances called betacyanins.

This group includes a large number of substances with similar chemical structures. Betanin plays a major role in the coloring of beets; in addition, it is extracted from beets and used as a food coloring (it is called “beet red” and is designated as food additive E162).

Beets also contain a family of compounds called betaxanthins. In their pure form, they are yellow in color and are present in beets in lower concentrations than betacyanins.

Betacyanins can cause bituria because some people's digestive systems do not break them down. The reason for this is not entirely clear.

It is assumed that these substances are destroyed at low pH levels of gastric juice, that is, when its acidity is low, this does not happen. These substances can pass through the digestive system, be absorbed through the walls of the colon and enter the bloodstream, and then they are filtered by the kidneys and excreted from the body along with urine. Of course, some undigested substances may remain in the large intestine and give an unexpected effect - purple poop.

It is likely that the breakdown of these substances is also influenced by genetic factors that have not yet been precisely determined. For example, if a person is genetically characterized by high acidity of gastric juice, he breaks down substances more efficiently, and then bituria does not occur. According to another opinion, bituria is associated with an indicator of hemochromatosis (excessive accumulation of iron in the body).

And another version: we are all susceptible to bithuria to some extent. One study found that chemical pigments in beets were found in the urine of all subjects tested, but only some had concentrations high enough to cause noticeable coloring.

How is garlic odor formed? Education mechanism

If even with minimal damage the clove smells strongly, then when you chop the garlic in a meat grinder or garlic press, the aroma becomes even more powerful.

The destruction of the cell structure of garlic leads to the combination of the following chemicals:

Alliin is an amino acid;
Alliinase is an enzyme.

They are initially contained in the same cell, but are isolated from each other by a special membrane. Alliin is contained in the cell cytoplasm, alliinase is found in the vacuoles of this cell. When the membrane is destroyed, the enzyme combines with an amino acid. The result of this reaction is the release of allicin, which contains about 70 compounds containing hydrogen sulfide.

The benefits of allicin for human health are undeniable. Almost all healing properties are associated with the presence of this chemical compound in garlic. Those who do not know how to remove the smell of garlic from their mouth and try to swallow it whole are making a mistake. An intact clove that does not contain allicin is devoid of all beneficial properties.

Foods and drinks that eliminate odor

You can “seize” the garlic smell:

What determines the persistence of garlic aroma?

Allicin is an unstable compound; it is destroyed as soon as it is formed. That is why, to preserve the aroma and beneficial properties, garlic is not heated or fried; it is added to dishes only at the end of cooking. Pickling garlic in whole cloves as part of preparations completely deprives it of its bactericidal properties.

During long-term storage, hydrogen sulfide compounds evaporate from the garlic heads. The most aromatic garlic is the one that was harvested not so long ago. After winter storage, no more than 5% of the biologically active substances from which allicin is formed remain in this product.

Why does garlic give you a bad smell in your mouth?

The main substance that causes the specific aroma is allicin. It is formed by the breakdown of the enzyme allinase, which is released when garlic is chopped.

Subsequently, allicin decomposes into several organic compounds containing sulfur.

Scientists have identified 4 main substances that cause unpleasant odors:

diallyl disulfide;
allyl methyl sulfide;
allyl mercaptan;
allyl methyl disulfide.

Some substances break down quickly, others slowly.

How to get rid of garlic odor from your mouth quickly and effectively

There are many ways to remove the smell of garlic from your mouth. Essentially, to remove odor, you need to neutralize those same 70 essential sulfur-containing compounds. Enzymes in the human digestive system are unable to break down allicin, causing others to endure a persistent odor from the mouth of a garlic lover.

Attention: the smell does not only come from the mouth or the digestive tract!

His sources:

lungs,
skin (with sweat);
kidneys (with urine).

How to neutralize or at least reduce an obsessive unpleasant odor?

Carrots, potatoes, mushrooms

Combine garlic with other vegetables and mushrooms in dishes (Photo: ru.freepik.com)
These products partially neutralize the smell of garlic. Therefore, it is logical to add it in fresh or granulated form to stewed vegetables and mushrooms. Then the aroma will not be so strong.

Try not to eat foods with garlic and onions before an important meeting. This will help you maintain confidence and not worry about fresh breath.

What ways do you know to quickly eliminate garlic and onion breath? Tell us in the comments.

Removing the smell of garlic using 5 hygiene procedures

There are several simple ways to get rid of the smell of garlic from your mouth after eating dishes richly seasoned with this spicy product.

Hygiene procedures:

Cleaning teeth using toothpaste;
Removing food between teeth using dental floss;
Rinsing the mouth with a product with antibacterial properties (containing chlorhexidine, cetylpyrinidium chloride);
Cleaning the tongue with a special scraper;
Finally, use an irrigator to cleanse the oral cavity.

If it is impossible to carry out these activities for some reason, rinsing your mouth with a solution of salt and baking soda will help remove the smell. Rinsing your dishes and hands with this mixture will have a similar effect.

Ways to eliminate odor

To get rid of the unpleasant smell of garlic (which can last up to a day and causes discomfort), you can use one of the proposed methods.

Oral hygiene

Hygiene procedures are considered one of the temporary but quite effective measures to get rid of garlic odor from the mouth. After eating, you can brush your teeth. Toothpaste with fluoride not only destroys pathogenic microflora in the mouth, but also helps get rid of odor.

Mouth rinses work similarly. In addition to ready-made purchased products, you can use simple but effective homemade products.

Recipes for effective rinses

Baking soda has bactericidal and cleansing properties. To prepare the mouthwash, mix 1 tsp in a glass of warm water. baking soda and rinse your mouth thoroughly. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated after 15 minutes. Baking soda simultaneously whitens tooth enamel and removes plaque from the tongue.
To weaken the pathogenic flora, you need to create an acidic environment in the mouth. For this purpose, stir 2 tbsp in a glass of warm boiled water. l. apple or grape vinegar. Rinse your mouth after eating.
Mint and lemon balm have disinfectant and deodorizing properties. Fresh or dried herbs should be brewed in boiling water. Take 1-2 tbsp per glass of hot water. l. raw materials. Cover with a lid and leave to steep for 5-7 minutes. Mint contains menthol, which can cover up the garlic smell. Mint infusion is suitable not only for rinsing. You can drink it like tea, after straining it first. Mint calms the nervous system and lowers blood pressure. You can add a little honey for taste.
If you cut off a slice of lemon and fill it with water at room temperature (1 tbsp.), leave it overnight, then in the morning you can rinse your mouth with lemon water after breakfast. To quickly prepare a similar remedy, just stir 1 tsp in a glass of water. freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Just like mint, you can brew nettle. It does not have such an aroma, but it exhibits bactericidal properties and cleanses the oral cavity well. It should be noted that nettle has quite a few contraindications.
The rinse aid turns out to be pleasant and useful if in ½ tbsp. stir in warm water 3 drops of tea tree essential oil, 5 drops of lemon juice and 3 drops of mint extract.

Mouth fresheners

On sale you can find a large number of mouth sprays that are designed to get rid of unpleasant odors, including garlic.

They are comfortable, take up little space and allow you to forget about discomfort for several hours. At the pharmacy you can buy products in tablets that can get rid of bad breath.

Breath freshening drinks

We advise you to use drinks that help get rid of the unpleasant aroma from your mouth after eating garlic. Essential substances from allicin are fat-soluble compounds. Thus, if you drink garlic with milk, its fats will dissolve the allicin, bind it and prevent it from evaporating outside.

Other commonly available drinks that can help cover up the smell of garlic include the following:

green tea, which contains antioxidants and phenols (they freshen breath);
herbal infusions (mint, lemon balm);
fruit juices with sourness (lemon, lime, grapefruit, cranberry).

Fruit acids from juices stimulate saliva production. By washing the oral cavity, it accelerates the elimination of odor naturally.

When you urgently and quickly need to eliminate the smell of garlic, prepare a fenugreek infusion. You can buy it at the pharmacy, and the product is prepared in 10-15 minutes from half a liter of water and a spoonful of plant seeds. Strain and drink 150-200 ml. You can also read about the benefits of garlic for the body.

Products against garlic odor

What to do if your breath smells and you don’t have a toothbrush and toothpaste at hand? Try to cover up the unpleasant aroma with food products, among which the following do the best job:

Recommended fruits are grapes, cherries, apples, apricots, and peach. If you eat something garlicky at a restaurant, just order a fruit dessert. You can even drink juice, although it is not as effective in this case.
Vegetables include eggplant and potatoes.
Herbs remove the smell of garlic even more effectively and quickly: parsley, dill, cilantro, basil, peppermint. They not only interrupt the aroma, but also neutralize chemical compounds from garlic.
Bread, especially black bread, does a good job of counteracting the smell of garlic.
Walnuts, peanuts, almonds and hazelnuts, as well as pumpkin and sunflower seeds, help combat odor from garlicky dishes. They dull and interrupt them, but do not completely neutralize them.

In an emergency, you can chew natural coffee beans or cardamom.