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LeavesNoTrace's avatar

How can I get rid of garlic BO faster?

Asked by LeavesNoTrace (5677points) September 10th, 2017

We all know that consuming certain things can give you bad breath, but I’m learning the hard way that they can also REALLY make you stink!

I went to a cigar lounge with my SO a few nights ago (last time I do that) which did not help. And the next day, I made a garlic-rich meal for myself that has left me with a sour, garlicky smell seeping out of my pores. Now, no matter how much I shower or brush my teeth or rinse my mouth or wash my clothes—I stink! And when I think about the things I’ve consumed this week (half a cigar, cocktails, dairy, coffee, spices, etc.) the culprits are obvious.

I’ve read that these things will have to work their way out of my system, but I’d like to speed it up to make me fit for human interaction again. Any advice?

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20 Answers

LeavesNoTrace's avatar

@ragingloli Yikes! That will make it worse in my experience. Then I’ll just smell like sour garlic blossoms. :-p

Soubresaut's avatar

I’ve heard that flossing can help reduce the garlic odor coming from the mouth. I don’t know how much it helps—presumably it’s too make sure that there aren’t any bits of garlic still hanging around—and you probably did floss, it just wasn’t in the list so I thought I’d mention it.

Mints might help to mitigate the smell in your breath, too?

I briefly scanned this article. It claims to present scientifically studied methods for dealing with garlic breath: eat raw apple, lemon juice, green tea. The “even better ways” link at the bottom also offers raw lettuce, and says that of all methods, chewing mint leaves takes the cake.

As for odor in other places…

I’ve also heard that scrubbing your fingers against stainless steel can take away the garlic odor. It could be an appliance, a sink, the face of a thick knife blade (but not too closet to the sharp edge!). It’s usually mentioned as something to do right after chopping the garlic, when you’re first washing your hands. Still, if you still smell garlic on your hands it might be something to try? I’m not sure it would help with the seep from pores, though!

LeavesNoTrace's avatar

@Soubresaut The problem isn’t my breath, it’s that the smell is literally seeping out of my pores. I floss every day without fail and practice good hygiene. My boyfriend says that even the back of my neck smells like garlic and cigars the last few days even after I shower!

zenvelo's avatar

Chew some parsley. Drink water to flush your system.Brush your teeth.

And clean living for a couple days.

Earthbound_Misfit's avatar

Chewing parsley gets rid of garlic breath, perhaps it will help cull garlic BO too.

Brian1946's avatar

In addition to drinking lots of water, try engaging in perspiration-inducing activity to expedite the flushing process.

janbb's avatar

My Ex had that for a day after eating garlic bread once. I think it just had to work its way out. A bummer but you could try the parsley and drinking lots of water.

LeavesNoTrace's avatar

@Brian1946 I’ll def be going for a bike ride later. @janbb Oh dear. I hope that’s not why they’re your ex! :-/

Love_my_doggie's avatar

The odor is from within your body, which makes it difficult to stop. Allyl methyl sulfide (AMS) is absorbed into your blood when you metabolize garlic, then it gets transferred to your lungs and skin. Brushing, flossing, and mouthwash do little to help, because AMS gets exhaled when you breath. AMS also seeps from your pores.

I’ll be curious whether some rigorous exercise – all that perspiration and heavy breathing – will help. The suggestion makes perfect sense to me!

stanleybmanly's avatar

vigorous exercise and the resulting consumption of lots of water should speed things along considerably. For some reason, I don’t find the odor of garlic offensive.

imrainmaker's avatar

I’m curious.. how much amount of garlic will have to be consumed for this to happen?

stanleybmanly's avatar

it varies a great deal with the individual. There are plenty of variables, from body weight to individual metabolism. Frankly, I LOVE garlic, so me, the wife and kids probably all stink to high heaven. The grandsons too.

stanleybmanly's avatar

I also think a lot depends on how acclimated your body is to processing the stuff.

janbb's avatar

@imrainmaker For my Ex, it was probably a few slices only of very garlicky garlic bread. He had had it other times and not stunk as much.

LeavesNoTrace's avatar

For me, it was about 5 whole cloves of garlic sauteed up with ½ a red onion added to some quinoa with other spices, chicken stock, and parmesan. It was delicious going down, but within hours I was stinking to high heaven and still do.

BAD CHOICE! My BF is understandably keeping his distance. I also hate when people smell like garlic and am not enjoying my time as a “garlic person”.

NomoreY_A's avatar

What do I look like, Count Dracula?

Soubresaut's avatar

@LeavesNoTrace I’m sorry about the smell! Also for misunderstanding the main issue. And sorry if I sounded like I was implying you didn’t floss enough—absolutely didn’t mean that!

I’m like @stanleybmanly, I eat a lot of garlic. I probably I smell like it more than I care to know…

NomoreY_A's avatar

It could always be worse: (Sung to the tune of “Moon River”) – Chopped liver, onions on the side, my social life has died, from you. My friends shun me, they all outrun me, the smell of my breath, is slow death, sad but true…

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