Garlic improves the taste of many dishes and, moreover, contains many useful substances. Food seasoned with garlic is loved by many. But everyone is also familiar with the “downside” - a strong odor from the mouth after eating garlic. Nobody wants to smell bad, so many people refuse to eat garlic altogether.
But there is a way out if you know how to destroy this pungent aroma.
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.
Breath fresheners
At the pharmacy you will find breath fresheners for every taste and budget. As a rule, a freshener is a small bottle of spray that fits in a pocket or handbag. Please note that on the packaging the manufacturer usually indicates what problems the air freshener should solve. Make sure garlic flavor is on the list. Choose a freshener with a neutral smell or with a fruit aroma, for example, “Rox”, “Glister” sprays - they do their job perfectly.
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.
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.
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?
How long does it usually last before it can be neutralized?
If you immediately use one of the following methods to neutralize the smell of garlic, you don’t have to worry about the repellent odor. If you wait a few hours and only then begin to eliminate the garlic smell, you can reduce it slightly, but it will not completely disappear.
Not taking any steps to neutralize the smell of a vegetable means getting used to it for at least 72 hours.
It will take that long, or even longer, for those around you to detect the distinct aroma of garlic. Of course, the smell will gradually become less noticeable, but it will not completely disappear .
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.
What to do if your hands or hair smell bad?
What to do if your hands or hair smell bad? Of course, fight. By the way, garlic, due to its medicinal properties, is often included in medicinal masks for curls. You can eliminate the unpleasant smell of garlic from your hair in the following ways:
- Rinsing with mustard solution. You need to dilute one tablespoon of mustard in one liter of water. Rinse your hair carefully, as mustard will burn if it gets into your eyes.
- Using Apple Cider Vinegar. It needs to be diluted in the amount of two tablespoons in one liter of water. Be careful not to get the product into your eyes.
- Application of lemon juice. Just two tablespoons per liter of water is enough.
- Involvement of essential oils. Rose, lavender or tangerine will do. Apply literally 5-8 drops of essential oil to your hair and distribute thoroughly.
Keep in mind that the product may not remove the garlic aroma from your hair the first time. Repeat the procedure the next day. It is advisable to combine several methods, for example, apple cider vinegar and essential oils.
To quickly remove garlic odor from your hands, you should use the following products:
- Laundry soap. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and cold water. You can’t use hot water, as it causes the pores on the skin to expand, and this will cause the smell to become even stronger.
- Stainless steel. Any item made of stainless steel will do. Rub the skin of your hands with it and the smell will instantly disappear. A spoon, fork, knife and any other kitchen utensil will do.
- Mouth antiseptic. Despite its purpose for the oral cavity, the composition will help combat the persistent aroma of garlic on the hands, and also get rid of bacteria. You need to apply a little product on your palms, carefully distribute and leave for about 4-5 minutes. After this, you need to rinse your hands with cool water.
- Antibacterial gel. You need to pour a little product into your palm, carefully distribute without rubbing, and wait for absorption. Repeat several times.
- Vinegar. Hands should be moistened with vinegar and not washed off for several minutes. Next, you need to rinse your palms with cold water, dry them and use any nourishing cream that will prevent skin irritation or dryness.
- Vegetable oil (any). Surprisingly, this product helps eliminate unpleasant odors. You need to apply it to your hands, wait two to three minutes and wash thoroughly with soap.
Each of these means allows you to get almost instant results, which is what you need.
Homemade scrubs will help in the fight against garlic odor on your hands:
- Baking soda. Dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:3 accordingly. You should get a white paste, which you need to rub on your hands and not rinse off for about 5-7 minutes. Then rinse your palms with cold water.
- Toothpaste. Use a hygiene product that contains baking soda. They need to rub their hands and not rinse off for about 5-7 minutes. Next, rinse your palms with cold water.
- Table or sea salt. Wet your palms with water and rub with salt. Leave the scrub on your hands for one minute and then rinse it off with cold water.
- Coffee grounds. Apply liquid soap to your hands and spread coffee grounds over it. Leave the product on your hands for 3-4 minutes, and then rinse your palms with cold water.
You can also use hand baths. The best ones are antibacterial ones, which help to cope with the specific aroma of garlic in just two or three minutes. The most effective recipes include the following:
- Hydrogen peroxide is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3, respectively.
- The parsley decoction is brewed on the basis that per liter of water you will need about three tablespoons of dry ingredient or six to seven fresh (chopped). You need to soak your hands in the resulting mixture for five minutes and then rinse with water.
- Add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to one liter of water. You can hold your hands in this composition for no more than two minutes.
- Lemon juice and water are mixed in equal proportions. After five minutes, rinse your hands with water.
- The milk needs to be heated a little. Place your hands in it and hold for about five minutes. The unpleasant smell will disappear almost immediately.
- Mix one teaspoon of salt and baking soda in a container, add warm water (one and a half glasses is enough). After the crystals have dissolved, lower your hands and soak in the bath for three to five minutes.
At the end of the procedure, be sure to rinse your hands with cold water and use a nourishing cream to moisturize the skin.
