Table of contents:
- Why is the smell of onions difficult to get out of the mouth?
- How to get rid of onion odor
- 1. Apples
- 2. Milk
- 3. Parsley and mint
- 4. Spinach
- 5. Lemon
- 6. Coffee beans
- 7. Green tea
Overcoming bad breath due to certain foods is usually enough to brush your teeth or rinse with mouthwash. However, this is not the case if the cause of your bad breath is onions, especially raw onions, onions, or garlic. Often times, brushing alone won't get the scent of onions out of your breath.
Why is the smell of onions difficult to get out of the mouth?
Garlic and other members of the allium plant family (onions, leeks, shallots) produce cysteine sulfoxide which gives them a distinct taste and smell. These sulfate compounds are very similar to the compounds produced by anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath. The compounds that cause onion-smelling breath are allyl methyl sulfide (AMS). AMS is a gas that is absorbed into the blood during the processing of onions in the body. From the blood, the gas is then transferred to the lungs where it is exhaled.
Some of these AMS are even removed from the skin pores. This is why garlic breath is so hard to get rid of. No matter how much you clean and brush your mouth, the smell of onions will still be in the air when you exhale from your lungs.
How to get rid of onion odor
To get rid of bad breath when eating onions, you can eat the following foods:
1. Apples
Fresh apples contain enzymes that have ingredients like natural deodorants. Therefore, it can act against the smell of onions produced by cysteine sulfoxide in onions. The presence of this enzyme can be seen from the color change of apples which turn brown when peeled. You are advised to eat apples immediately after eating onions or foods containing onions, in order to prevent or neutralize the smell of onions.
2. Milk
Drinking a glass of milk after or when eating foods containing onions can repel the smell of onions. A study from Ohio State University in 2010 found that drinks that contain high levels of fat, such as milk, can help reduce the smell of garlic and also mask the smell of garlic during meals. Both plain milk and weak low milk can reduce the sulfur in garlic which is the cause of the strong odor. But between the two, milk that has a high level of fat will get the best results, because fat is effective in neutralizing odors.
3. Parsley and mint
Some fresh herbs such as parsley and mint contain strong oils, which can help to beat bad breath. According to Sally Cram, DDS, a spokesperson for American Dental Association , said that the herb can act as a mouthwash to cover up odors. Plus, they leave a pleasant smell. Even though the results will only appear a few minutes after consuming it, it's better than nothing.
4. Spinach
Spinach contains the same polyphenols as apples, which can break down the sulfate compounds present in onions. The best part is that the garlic and spinach when cooked together have a delicious taste, so you can't say no to this meal.
5. Lemon
Lemon works as a natural deodorant for the smell of onions in your mouth, because lemon has antibacterial properties. After consuming garlic, you can squeeze the lemon into your mouth and you can even use it to wash your hands to get rid of the smell of onions on your hands.
6. Coffee beans
Coffee has a strong taste made by coffee beans. This coffee bean powder has a slightly stronger taste and odor reflex to repel odors from the onions. You can chew the coffee beans for a while to let the smell of onions leave your mouth.
7. Green tea
Green tea is not only good for health, but the enzymes and antioxidants present in it can help get rid of the strong smell of onions in the mouth. You can consume green tea immediately after consuming onions or can even drink it when you eat foods that contain onions.
Keep in mind that these foods can only temporarily remove odors. In fact, the best way to get rid of onion odor is to stop eating it, this is the only way to completely get rid of bad breath. If keeping onions out of your diet is not a good choice for you, then you can do the following. However, please note that, even though you may have neutralized the onion compounds in your mouth, the sulfate compounds are still exhaled from the lungs, so that your breath will come back again.