1. Try eating fresh produce like apples, spinach, or mint

    If you’re having a particularly garlic-heavy meal, eat apples for dessert or chew on fresh mint leaves. Hot green tea and lemon juice may also help.

  2. Brush and floss after eating

    Much of the bacteria that causes bad breath lives below the gum line and in plaque build-up on teeth. Brushing and flossing after eating onions or garlic can help eliminate odor-causing bacteria, plus food residue.

  3. Chew on Coffee Beans.

    To get rid of garlic breath, you'll want to chew on coffee beans. It may not taste as good as a warm cup of coffee, but it will do the trick!

  4. Use essential oils

    You can make your own homemade mouthwash with essential oils and a carrier oil (coconut, sweet almond, or olive). Essential oils with proven benefits for eliminating bad breath include:

    • peppermint
    • rosemary
    • myrrh
    • eucalyptol

  5. Try tongue cleaners

    Bacteria also thrive and multiply on the back of the tongue where your toothbrush can’t reach. A white tongue can indicate dead cells, microscopic food particles, and bacteria. Tongue cleaners, such as tongue brushes and scrapers, can help you reach the very back of your tongue. They’re also effective for removing odor-causing residue.

  6. Eat some Yogurt.

    It may not be ideal to eat yogurt before or after a meal, but since it would only be to neutralize garlic breath, it will be worth it.

  7. Drink green tea

    Drink a hot cup of green tea after a meal to temporarily reduce odor until you can get to the bathroom to brush your teeth.

  8. Chew spearmint gum

    Chewing spearmint gum can temporarily neutralize garlic breath. It also may reduce acid reflux, which can diminish the lingering effects of garlic and onion after digestion.

    Garlic breath doesn’t last forever. Plan ahead if you feel like you might be at risk for garlic- or onion-heavy breath. Avoid an onion bagel for breakfast before a job interview or important meeting. Or you can experiment with these home treatments to see which one works for you. Take the one that does the trick with you on the road.