YOU’VE JUST FEASTED ON A FANTASTIC ITALIAN DINNER – now you feel like a garlic-breathing dragon. Now what?
Water, unfortunately, isn’t going to help – and sucking on a mint or chewing gum will only mask your garlic breath temporarily.
Garlic’s Lasting Power
Once garlic is digested into your system, its oils are ushered into your bloodstream and circulated to the lungs, where its garlicky odor is exhaled for up to 72-hours. That’s right. Three days!
No amount of tooth brushing is going to get rid of that garlic breath. However, there are two tricks that seem to lessen the foul effects of garlic:
- Try chewing on a sprig or two of fresh parsley after the meal.
- You can try fennel. Fennel is a sweet-tasting herb that has been known to freshen breath and aid in digestion. You may have noticed many Indian restaurants have bowls of fennel seeds (sometimes candy-coated) for patrons to grab on the way out the door.
Bad Breath Is Common – And There Are Solutions
While there are ways to avoid getting garlic breath, everyone is prone to bad breath now and then. Poor oral hygiene, drinks, our diets, medical conditions, and illness can all play a role in halitosis.
A study found that 32% of Americans cite bad breath as the least attractive trait of a co-worker – so the people around you will appreciate the efforts you make to eliminate this issue.
If you’re plagued by chronic bad breath, your first line of defense is to brush and floss your teeth at least twice day – for at least 2 minutes each time.
Second, make an appointment to visit Comfort Dental. Dr. Brucken and Dr. Stubbs can evaluate other common causes of bad breath:
- Periodontal (gum) disease – bacteria causes infection around the natural pocket of the teeth
- Improperly fitting or poorly cleaned dentures
- Dry mouth – caused by certain medications or medical conditions that decrease the production of saliva, as well as continuous mouth breathing, especially during sleep
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We hope you enjoyed these facts! It never hurts to know a little more about your smile. Contact us if you have any other dental-related questions or to set up an appointment!
