Say goodbye to garlic breath: 5 effective ways to eliminate the bad smell

The strong smell of garlic and onion can really be a social buzzkill. Whether you’re enjoying a rich Italian dinner or spicing up your stir-fry, the lingering smell of garlic and onion can be more than a little.

But don’t worry, we’ve got some sneaky tricks to help you eliminate the stink and salvage your social life.

Here are 5 ways to prevent stinky breath after snacking on garlic or onion:

Chew parsley This clean-tasting herb is a natural mouth-freshener. The high chlorophyll content in parsley absorbs and neutralizes the sulfur chemicals that give garlic its pungency. Just chew on a few stems or mix some into your dish as a chic garnish.

Gargling with salt water A quick rinse of salt water can do wonders to trapped garlic particles and kill bacteria responsible for bad breath. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm water and gargle for 30 seconds.

Crunch on an apple Apples are the breath mints of nature. The fibrous nature will remove bacteria and food particles, and the malic acid will help break down sulfur compounds. Crunch on a slice of apple or drink some apple cider vinegar for a similar effect.

Drink green tea Green tea’s catechins have been proven to decrease sulfur compounds in the mouth, so it is an excellent drink after meals to remove the bad breath effectively.

Brush and floss Old-school oral care methods can work like magic in alleviating garlic mouth. Brush your teeth using fluoride toothpaste, and floss to extract any leftover food pieces.

So breathe easy and relax. You’ll be garlic free in no time with these 5 tips.