Would you use a garlic mouthwash? Scientists say it provides the freshest breath yet

Death to bad breath comes in cloves. Garlic — that pungent, bulb-shaped veggie that gives food a kick and vampires the ick — is now being crowned a possible cure for halitosis, per a new report. “Garlic extract mouthwash showed comparable efficacy to chlorhexidine, particularly at higher concentrations,” wrote study authors from the College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates. Researchers compared the juices derived from the vegetable to chlorhexidine, or CHX. It’s an antiseptic and disinfectant “widely used as a gold standard mouthwash,” but can alter taste, as well as trigger other adverse side effects like oral numbness, burning sensations, plus teeth and tongue staining. Overuse of the chemical can also promote antimicrobial resistance, leaving users’ mouths prey to bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites — all of which can prompt smelly breath and internal infections. “Garlic (Allium sativum) has been recognized for its medicinal properties for centuries, with its antimicrobial efficacy being a subject of interest in recent research,” wrote investigators. The specialists reviewed five previous studies to determine just how well the plant stacks up against CHX when it comes to warding off dangerous germs. “The antimicrobial properties of garlic have been attributed to compounds such as allicin, which is formed when garlic is crushed,” experts noted. “Studies have demonstrated the antimicrobial activity of garlic extracts against numerous bacteria, fungi and viruses.” The findings revealed that over the course of a week, a 3% garlic extract mouthwash was “significantly more effective” in reducing the amount of salivary bacteria compared to a 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash. Still, the au naturel alternative to CHX comes with its own set of drawbacks, according to the meta-analysis, which lists “burning sensation” and an “unpleasant taste” as the top side effects of going all-in on garlic. Clinicians, too, found that garlic can’t compete with CHX when it comes to fighting specific disease-sprouting microorganisms. “Chlorhexidine has shown better antimicrobial activity against certain bacteria like Porphyromonas gingivalis,” said the insiders, adding, however, that “garlic extract is a potent antimicrobial agent against multidrug-resistant bacteria.” It’s all about whichever salve folks prefer putting in their mouths. “Garlic extract mouthwash demonstrated clinical antimicrobial effectiveness, with significant reductions in bacterial counts from baseline,” researchers reiterated in conclusion, emphasizing “the possible use of garlic extract mouthwash as a viable alternative to chlorhexidine in certain contexts, particularly when higher concentrations are used.“