garlic breath

The major volatile compounds responsible for garlic breath are allyl methyl sulfide, allyl methyl disulfide, allyl mercaptan, diallyl disulfide, dimethyl disulfide and methyl mercaptan, along with minor amounts of dimethyl selenide.Cai, X.-C.; Block, E.; Uden, P.C.; Quimby, B. D.; Sullivan, J. J. “Allium Chemistry: Identification of Natural Abundance Organoselenium Compounds in Human Breath after Ingestion of Garlic using Gas Chromatography with Atomic Emission Detection”, J. Agric. Food Chem. 1995, 43, 1751-1753. {{doi | 10.1021/jf00055a001}}{{cite book | author=Block, E. | title=Garlic and Other Alliums: The Lore and the Science | publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry | year=2010 | isbn=978-0-85404-190-9}}{{Cite journal | title = The Effect of Milk on the Deodorization of Malodorous Breath after Garlic Ingestion | author = Hansanugrum, Areerat| journal = Journal of Food Science | year = 2010 | volume = 75 | issue = 6 | pages = C549-58 | publisher = Ohio State University| doi = 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2010.01715.x | pmid = 20722910 | url = https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_etd/send_file/send?accession=osu1267640898&disposition=inline}} Various other sulfur compounds are also produced when allicin in garlic is broken down in the stomach and liver. Out of the many compounds, allyl methyl sulfide (AMS) does not break down quickly and remains in the body in significant amounts hours after consumption, resulting in an odor that can last for hours — or even for as long as two days.{{cite web|last1=Singh|first1=Maanvi|title=Science Of Stink: Blame Sulfur Compounds For Your Garlic Breath|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/06/21/323999613/science-of-stink-blame-sulfur-compounds-for-your-garlic-breath|publisher=National Public Radio|accessdate=6 January 2016}} This appears to be anecdotal evidence. The reporter has quoted it from chemistry professor Eric Block, PhD, and his wife. "I'm a garlic lover, and my wife — who has an excellent sense of smell — says even 48 hours after eating a garlic meal, she can smell it on my skin," Professor Block explained. AMS is the only one of the garlic-derived organosulfur compounds detectable in the lungs or urine, as well as the mouth, which means that AMS is reabsorbed into the blood stream and travels to other organs for excretion - namely the lungs, kidneys and skin.Suarez, F.; Springfield, J.; Furne, J.; Levitt, M. "Differentiation of mouth versus gut as site of origin of odoriferous breath gases after garlic ingestion," Am. J. Physiol. 1999, 276(2 Pt 1), G425–30. Anaerobic bacteria, which do not metabolize oxygen, are a main source for producing volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) which cause bad breath.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}

Mouthwash or breath mints are not particularly effective, since the sulfurous compounds are absorbed into the bloodstream, and exit the body through the lungs and skin. Consuming parsley is a common folk remedy.{{cite web|title=How to Kiss Garlic Breath Goodbye|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-09-he-26979-story.html|work=LA Times|access-date=24 January 2012|author=Joe Graedon|author2=Teresa Graedon|date=9 March 1998}} Studies conducted at Ohio State University have shown that drinking milk can reduce garlic breath.{{cite web|title=Drinking a glass of milk can stop garlic breath|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11138979|publisher=BBC News Health|accessdate=26 May 2012|date=31 August 2010}} Lettuce, chicory, celery, potato, parsley, mint leaves, peppermint, and basil were shown to be the best remedy according to the study.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20161223-how-to-tackle-garlic-breath|title=The surprising foods you should eat to banish garlic breath|last=Greenwood|first=Veronique|access-date=2017-01-17}} Eating these foods raw is more effective than heated. Indeed, enzymes that degrade the sulfurous compounds responsible for garlic breath are heat sensitive and found in previously mentioned food.

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.healthyfellow.com/717/garlic-breath-remedies/ What causes it, how to cure it]
• [http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/31/garlic-breath-drink-some-milk/ on curing garlic breath] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008134921/http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/31/garlic-breath-drink-some-milk/ |date=2018-10-08 }}
• [https://10kitchen.com/how-do-you-get-rid-of-garlic-breath/ How do you get rid of garlic breath]

Category:Oral hygiene