Having alcoholic breath can be really annoying and embarrassing. If you are worried about having to be around people with alcohol-smelling breath, you can try one of the many tips in this article. By eating or drinking particular substances, taking care of your personal hygiene and trying to prevent the onset of alcoholic breath in advance, you can finally stop feeling uncomfortable.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Eat and Drink
Step 1. Eat before drinking or while drinking
Eating while drinking can help reduce bad breath. Food absorbs some of the alcohol ingested, and also stimulates the production of saliva. This will help prevent dehydration, which can make alcoholic breath worse.
- Bars typically offer snacks and appetizers, such as peanuts, popcorn and other treats, to make sure patrons don't feel sick from drinking too much. When you drink out of the house, always try to nibble on something.
- If you are going to a friend's house, offer to bring a snack for the group. Bring a few packs of chips or popcorn to pop in the microwave. In addition to appearing generous in the eyes of the host, you will be able to reduce alcoholic breath.
Step 2. Try using garlic and onions
Highly aromatic foods can overpower the smell of alcohol. Red onions and garlic tend to affect the breath for a long time, reducing the smell of alcohol.
- At the bar you can order a snack that contains garlic or onion. Garlic bruschetta and onion rings are among the most popular foods in any pub.
- Alternatively, you can order a sandwich, salad, or burger that contains raw onion.
- Those looking for a quick fix may decide to eat only raw garlic or onion. While it is a rather effective solution, it is good to keep in mind that the smell of garlic and onion can also be quite intense and annoying. In addition, in addition to spreading through the breath, it also tends to escape from the pores of the skin. If you are trying to reduce your alcoholic breath because you are attending a social event, this option may not be the best; the smell of garlic, although more socially acceptable, can be as unpleasant as that of alcohol.
Step 3. Chew gum
Chewing gum can help mask alcoholic breath. Their strong odor will overpower that of alcohol, and you will also be led to produce more saliva, which contributes to reducing alcoholic breath.
- Choose a strong flavored chewing gum. It will cause excess salivation which will help eliminate alcoholic breath more quickly. Although the aroma may initially appear too intense, it will tend to diminish as you chew it.
- Mint chewing gums are a viable option. An intense minty taste can quickly mask the smell of alcohol, and for this reason it is often used as a breath freshener.
Step 4. Drink water and coffee
Both will help you reduce alcoholic breath. Water restores the liquids lost due to alcohol and promotes salivation, which contributes to reducing alcoholic breath. Coffee has a pleasant and intense smell, capable of masking the annoying one of alcohol. Be careful though, the advice is to drink coffee only the next morning. Mixing substances with stimulating and depressive effects can in fact induce energy spikes, risking to make you feel less drunk than you actually are. As a result, you may tend to ingest more alcohol than your body can handle.
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning
Step 1. Brush your teeth for a couple of minutes longer than usual
Brushing your teeth carefully can help you reduce bad breath caused by alcohol. Spend some extra time cleaning your mouth to relieve alcoholic breath.
- Use a strongly scented toothpaste that contains menthol. This is the most effective choice when you want to mask the smell of alcohol.
- Brush your teeth for a couple of minutes longer than normal. This extra time will help you get rid of as much residue and alcohol-soaked food as possible.
Step 2. Use dental floss
Don't neglect its importance after an evening where you have overdone the amounts of alcohol a little. The food particles, in this case diluted with alcohol, tend to get trapped between one tooth and the other, contributing to the onset of alcoholic breath despite careful use of the toothbrush.
Step 3. Use mouthwash
After brushing and flossing, rinse your mouth carefully with a good mouthwash. The task of the mouthwash is to eliminate bad breath, for this reason they tend to have a strong mint taste, ideal for covering the smell of alcohol. Move it in your mouth for the time recommended on the package, usually around 30 seconds, then spit it into the sink and do a final mouth rinse with water only.
Step 4. Take a shower
Alcohol doesn't just affect your breath, it also seeps through your skin pores, causing a bad smell. Whenever you happen to drink a little more than normal, take a shower before bed or in the morning when you wake up.
- Wash your body especially carefully.
- Strong-scented soaps, shampoos, and conditioners can help eliminate or relieve the smell of alcohol.
Method 3 of 3: Preventing Alcoholic Breath
Step 1. Drink in moderation
Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, rather than drinking a lot in a short time, can lessen the subsequent smell of alcohol on your breath and skin. Try not to drink more than 2-3 drinks spread over the course of the evening. Binge drinking can cause serious health problems that go far beyond bad breath, especially when it comes to a frequent habit. Cutting back on alcohol, and not drinking in an attempt to get drunk, is the best way to prevent bad breath.
Try to have a maximum of two drinks per night
Step 2. Do not mix different alcoholic beverages
Each drink has its own smell. Mixing different types of alcohol can make your breath even more unpleasant. Limit yourself to only one type of alcoholic beverage to relieve bad breath.
Step 3. Prefer drinks with a simple composition
Blended drinks that contain herbs or spices have a much stronger smell than simple wine, liqueur, or beer. Choose something simple so you don't have to struggle with very intense bad breath.
