How Green Tea Can Help Get Rid Of Garlic Breath

Tea is one of the most widely drank beverages internationally. In fact, according to the Tea Association of the U.S.A. Inc., tea is the most frequently consumed beverage in the world, just beaten out by water. And the popularity of green tea can't be ignored with around 600,000 tons, or 20% of the total tea consumption, drank globally each year, per O-Chanet.

Green tea has been used in Asia, specifically China and Japan, for certain perceived medical benefits for thousands of years, per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And both in the U.S. and abroad, drinking green tea daily has been said to possibly prevent certain cancers, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and weight gain.

While benefits of longevity are still being studied, there do seem to be smaller perks from sipping green tea. According to Healthline, mental alertness is increased with caffeine — and it can even be a natural cure for bad breath.

No more awkwardly checking your breath at your work desk or at the dinner table: Drinking green tea with your garlic-infused meals can help reduce any unpleasant scents and prevent growth of bacteria.

According to the National Library of Medicine, garlic contains a sulfuric compound called allicin. This chemical's notable garlicy smell is released as a defense mechanism when the garlic's tissue is damaged, but the antioxidants in green tea can combat garlic breath because it is high in polyphenols, a type of antioxidant. The polyphenols are able to reduce the odor-causing chemicals in garlic, per Food and Wine. However, green tea should be consumed alongside any garlicky food for the ultimate effectiveness.

This has been backed up by a few studies, including a 2018 study from the Dental Research Journal, which experimented with a green tea mouthwash. The conclusion reads, "Green tea mouthwash can reduce halitosis. This effect can be attributed to its rinsing activity as a mouthwash as well as the antimicrobial mechanisms of green tea itself."

Even if you aren't the biggest tea fan, it may be worth purchasing green tea-infused oral products or bringing the tea along in a thermos to your next garlicky meal.