Take a hangover pill and get rid of it instantly—forget about it. Although advertisements claim otherwise, in reality there are no miracle cures. Until your liver has processed all the alcohol you’ve consumed, your body will eliminate ethyl alcohol by any means possible, including through breathing and sweating.
Bad breath is usually the most troubling issue, as people you’re talking to will immediately understand its cause. If you can’t sleep off your hangover at home, you need to mask its symptoms somehow so as not to harm your career. To avoid wasting time on methods that don’t work, we’ll immediately point out which remedies for bad breath are virtually useless:
- mouthwash;
- chewing gum;
- mint lozenges;
- activated charcoal.
The advertised bad breath tablets are usually just lozenges with a lot of menthol, eucalyptus, etc. The unpleasant odor comes directly from the lungs, so freshening your mouth won’t help much. However, there are other methods that work.

An effective remedy for bad breath
The main strategy for fighting a hangover boils down to helping your body eliminate alcohol residues faster. By following the tips below, you can effectively get rid of bad breath.
- Take a shower
Since toxins are also excreted through the skin, use deodorant, lotion, or even baby powder after your shower. The most important thing is to reduce sweating, as the smell of sweat will be much worse than usual. - Brush your teeth thoroughly
Spend at least 3 minutes on this daily routine, brushing every area thoroughly. To enhance the effect, use dental floss and mouthwash in addition to your toothbrush. - Eat a hearty breakfast
Although you often lack an appetite when hungover, be sure to eat something light. Your body needs energy to fight off the alcohol, so to get rid of your hangover faster, don’t skip breakfast. - Don’t skip physical activity
A short walk in the fresh air or morning exercises will help you feel more refreshed and speed up your metabolism. However, it’s important not to overexert yourself or get too tired. - Drink plenty of water
This will help your body flush out toxins faster. You can alternate between plain still mineral water and herbal infusions and teas. - Eat or drink something with a strong smell.
This isn’t a perfect solution, but it will work if your main goal is to mask the smell of alcohol. Coffee, garlic, onions, and other “strong-smelling” foods and drinks can temporarily neutralize the smell of alcohol.
Car owners should remember that even if the feeling of intoxication has passed, this does not automatically mean they are allowed to drive. Some alcoholic beverages remain in the body for more than 24 hours, so it’s better to check yourself using a personal breathalyzer. The online store for medical equipment Medica+ offers not only personal breathalyzers, but also other health-related products.

What products eliminate bad breath?
Various remedies for bad breath are sold in stores and pharmacies, but there is no point in spending money on them. You can achieve the same effect in freshening your breath by simply eating a regular mint candy. However, it is worth paying attention to products that accelerate the process of eliminating alcohol from the body. Among them:
- Hangover remedies designed to alleviate the symptoms of this condition.
- Sorbents. Even ordinary activated charcoal works.
- Vitamins. Vitamins B1 and B6 help break down alcohol faster, while vitamin C helps remove toxins.
Contrary to popular belief, drinking alcohol in the morning will not help get rid of the smell of alcohol or a hangover. On the contrary, it will only intensify the unpleasant odor coming from your body and mouth. It’s also not worth smoking cigarettes to mask this smell, as the effect will be the opposite.
What quickly removes the smell of alcohol?
There are several ways to instantly mask the unpleasant smell from your mouth. The effect will last from a few minutes to half an hour, which may be enough time to talk to your superiors or clients. Let’s take a look at the remedies we usually always have on hand.

- Coffee beans. Don’t brew them—just chew them. It’s better to choose dark roasts, as they have a stronger aroma.
- Herbs. Parsley, cilantro, mint, and other herbs contain essential oils that can temporarily mask the smell of a hangover.
- Vegetable oils. Flaxseed, hemp, and walnut oils work best. Just drink one tablespoon.
- Garlic. A choice between two bad options, since this smell isn’t pleasant either. However, it will last longer than most other options.
- Spices. Cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, and bay leaves won’t mask the smell of alcohol for long, but their aroma is better than that of garlic.
- Mustard. If you have a jar of this spicy condiment on hand, just one teaspoon is enough to mask other odors.
- Chewing gum or mint candies. These are popular remedies, but their effect will only last a few minutes.
The only way to get rid of the smell of alcohol is to wait. However, you can speed up the process of removing toxins from the body by drinking plenty of water, going for a walk, taking sorbents, etc. It is possible to mask the unpleasant smell, but due to the short-lived nature of the effect, you have to do this regularly until the alcohol residues leave the body.