10 Quick Ways Get Rid of Onion Breath
As healthy and as yummy as onions are, they certainly don’t smell good. And once you eat some onions, getting rid of the smell can be pretty difficult. Luckily, there are a couple of ways you can eat onions and still have a fresh breath. Here are 10 quick, natural, and effective ways to get rid of onion breath.
What Causes Onion Breath?
Onions contain sulfur compounds. These chemicals are responsible for the distinctive taste and smell of onions. However, there are two ways onions can give you onion breath.
Onion breath in your mouth happens when you chew the onion. The sulphuric compounds mix with the bacteria in your mouth. That’s why you can smell the onion in your breath after eating.
But why is onion breath still an issue even after you’ve already eaten? When you’re digesting onions, the sulphuric compounds also get absorbed into your bloodstream. They find their way to the lungs which then releases a foul odor every time you exhale.
10 Tips to Get Rid of Onion Breath
Whether you have a date or a business meeting coming up, you’ll want to get rid of onion breath. A fresh breath can give you a good impression and boost your confidence. These 10 tips can get you smelling like a million bucks after you’ve eaten onions.
1. Drink Green Tea
Drink green tea with honey several times a day. Green tea is rich in polyphenols which are powerful antioxidants that can kill the sulfurous compounds present in raw onions.
2. Lemons Work Against Onion Breath
Rinse your mouth with lemon water two to three times a day. A tablespoon of lemon juice in a cup of water can help neutralize onion breath. The citric acid in the lemon contains antibacterial properties that can kill bacteria that cause bad breath.
Just be careful not to let the citric acid sit on the teeth. Its high acidity can contribute to enamel erosion and tooth decay.
3. Mustard Sauce is Surprisingly Effective Against Onion Breath
Swish around mustard sauce in the mouth for a minute. This method won't kill the odorous molecules of the onion. However, the mustard sauce has a strong aroma that can help mask the onion smell.
4. Chew on Some Cardamom
Cardamom is a delicious Indian spice with a lot of health benefits. But a surprising quality of cardamom is its ability to get rid of onion breath. If you like the taste of the spice but not the smell of onions, it’s worth a try.
Chew cardamom after eating onions. Its strong aroma will help mask the onion odor and freshen your breath.
5. An Apple a Day Keeps the Onion Breath Away
Apples are one of the most versatile fruits on the planet. They’re just delicious. Plus, they have countless uses and benefits. One of these uses is to get rid of onion breath quickly.
Eating an apple is one of the most effective methods to get rid of onion breath. That’s because the natural enzymes in the apple break down the onion's sulfur compounds.
6. Use Apple Cider Vinegar
Rinse your mouth with apple cider vinegar and water. This helps to neutralize onion breath. And it destroys bad-breath-causing bacteria in the mouth.
7. Rinse Your Mouth with Baking Soda
Rinse your mouth with baking soda in water. This method neutralizes the onion smell, maintains the pH of your saliva, and controls the growth of bacteria in the mouth.
8. Drink Some Milk
Drink milk. When you drink milk, the sulfur in the onion is neutralized by the milk's fat content. Milk also acts as a natural mouth rinse.
9. Mints, Peppermints, and Breath Mints
If you’re looking for a minty fresh breath, you need mint. The mint contains chlorophyll which helps to freshen your breath while masking the onion odor. It also has mild antiseptic properties that fight against bad breath caused by bacteria.
You can find peppermint flavored chewing gum and spearmint flavored breath mints everywhere you go. Just make sure you get the sugar-free kind because the sugar in chewing gum damages your teeth.
You can also get your hands on some natural mint. Drink mint with water or chew on mint leaves to get rid of onion breath.
10. Brush Your Teeth
If all else fails, brush your teeth with plenty of toothpaste. Regularly cleaning your teeth is crucial for proper dental health. But. it’s also a great way to freshen up your breath.
Other Foods That Cause Bad Breath
While onion breath is certainly not pleasant, there are a couple of other healthy foods that cause bad breath too. Watch out for these in your diet before an important event:
- Garlic: The garlic odor can be very strong. The best way to get rid of it is by utilizing plant chemicals like chlorophyll and polyphenols to bind to sulfur compounds in garlic. Eat herbs like parsley, basil, thyme, cilantro, mint, or dill to get rid of garlic breath.
- Strong cheeses: There’s nothing classier than a nicely arranged cheese board. But, the smell of cheeses like Stilton, Roquefort, or Camembert can linger in your breath. Eating vegetables, using mouthwash, or gargling with saltwater are the best ways to get rid of cheese breath.
- Horseradish: This member of the mustard family is a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, folate, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and manganese. Despite its benefits, cut or chewed horseradish releases mustard oil, which comes with a really bad smell. Gargle with saltwater or use mouthwash to get rid of it quickly.
- Kombucha: This fermented drink is a popular superfood with a lot of amazing benefits. But, this vinegary drink doesn’t smell good at all. Drinking some green tea or chewing herbs will eliminate the bad breath caused by kombucha.
Could Your Bad Breath Be a Dental Issue?
Eating onions isn’t the only reason you may have bad breath. It can be a sign of a serious dental problem. Bad breath can be a symptom of gum disease, tooth decay, or an infection. If the smell of your breath doesn’t go away with these tricks, you need a dentist to examine you.
A trip to the dentist can cost a lot of money. Even a simple checkup can cost you more than you expect. But, if your bad breath could be a life-threatening condition, there’s no time to waste.
To save your teeth and your wallet from worries, sign up for a Carefree Dental Card.
Carefree Dental offers an instant discount at participating dental practices. All you have to do is sign up for a Carefree Dental Card, show it to the participating dentist, and save your money!
The Carefree Dental blog is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The text and pictures within the content are intended for information purposes only. Readers should consult with a licensed doctor or healthcare professional before seeking treatment.
The Carefree Dental Card is not insurance and Carefree Dental is not an insurance provider.
