How To Get Rid Of Alcohol Breath Instantly

You're out enjoying drinks with friends or colleagues and suddenly realize you've got to be somewhere else soon - maybe a date, a big work presentation, or picking up the kids from an event. But you can still taste and smell the telltale signs of booze on your breath. Uh oh.

While nothing can instantly sober you up, the good news is there are tricks you can use right away to significantly minimize and disguise alcohol breath so you can confidently carry on with your plans. No one else needs to know what you were up to earlier!

In this article, we'll quickly walk through easy home remedies, prevention tips, and even scientific reasons why alcohol makes your breath so smelly. Forget chewing gum or mints - we'll give you superior short-term solutions.

So whether you're trying to conceal a long boozy lunch, disguise the fact you were drinking right beforehand, or just want to get rid of that nasty taste in your mouth on the go, read on. We'll arm you with simple tricks to discreetly kiss booze breath goodbye - even when you're in a hurry.

What Is Alcohol Breath or Booze Breath?

Alcohol breath, or booze breath as it's commonly called, is a form of halitosis. It's no different than bad breath from coffee, tobacco, etc.

Essentially, what happens is the alcohol you're drinking leaves behind toxins that need to be broken down by the body. After all, alcohol itself is a chemical the body doesn't want in it. So the body breaks down these toxins - and turns them into acetic acid during metabolism. This reaction leaves behind an unpleasant odor in the mouth.

Interestingly enough, however, much of the problem associated with bad breath from alcohol isn't the result of anything in the mouth. It comes from the stomach - where alcohol is being broken down. Or, it may be coming from the lungs. When you exhale or belch, these nasty odors are brought up to the mouth. That's why you attribute the unpleasant smell to "bad breath".

Is There Anyway To Prevent Alcohol Breath In The First Place?

Now, we're going to teach you how to get rid of alcohol breath instantly in just a few moments. But, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say. So, is there anything that can be done to prevent alcohol breath in the first place?

The most obvious solution is to drink less or not at all. But, we know that you didn't come here to be told to abstain from alcohol altogether. Instead, you can try a few simple preventative measures: first of all, stay hydrated. The more water you have in your system, the easier time your body will have breaking down alcohol. And, your mouth will not dry out. A dry mouth is one that is more susceptible to bad breath.

Another prevention tactic is to avoid mixing drinks throughout the night. Combining whiskey, beer, vodka, gin, and wine is a recipe for disaster - not just in terms of a hangover, but bad breath, too. Find one drink and try to stick to it.

How To Get Rid Of Alcohol Breath Instantly

Even if you do your best to stay hydrated and avoid mixing drinks, you may still develop odorous breath from a night of heavy drinking. Don't worry - we're going to teach you how to get rid of alcohol breath instantly. First things first: try to avoid drinking on an empty stomach:

Eat Something (Before Or While You're Drinking)

An easy way to help minimise booze breath is to eat, either before you start drinking alcohol or during. Food can help stimulate saliva creation in the mouth and can help prevent dehydration (which itself can make alcohol breath worse). Food absorbs alcohol while you're drinking, too, which can help reduce your hangover symptoms the following day.

A general rule is that it's unwise to drink alcohol on an empty stomach, especially when it comes to hangovers. Just make sure to have some food while you're drinking - it will reduce your hangover symptoms and minimise alcohol breath.

Want to learn more about hangovers? Make sure to check out: How to get rid of hangovers

Other option to hide booze breath is to eat something that's strong smelling. Meals with garlic or onion can help cut the smell of alcohol - it just depends which one is the lesser of two evils for you.

Don't Mix Your Drinks

Generally speaking, each type of alcohol has its own particular smell. To minimise your booze breath, it's helpful to stick to one type of alcoholic drink during a drinking session. That way you're only dealing with one smell rather than the aftereffects of numerous different types of alcohol.

Drink Water

Drinking water doesn't do a lot against booze breath once it's present, but it does help minimise its development while also keeping you hydrated. A good rule of thumb is to drink one alcoholic drink per one glass of water. Staying hydrated while drinking alcohol also helps reduce the severity of your hangover the next day, too.

So while drinking water won't mask the smell of alcohol breath, it can certainly help slow down its development (and make you feel better the following day, too).

Want more? Learn about the Science of Getting Drunk.

Brush Your Teeth

This one is pretty self explanatory. Brushing your teeth is a simple and quick way to get rid of alcohol breath (as long as you have access to your toothbrush! Brushing your teeth is a great mouth freshener, even if your breath isn't all that awful.

By brushing your teeth, you can remove the bacteria hanging out in your mouth. Make sure to also scrub your tongue and the roof of your mouth for extra protection against alcohol breath. Using a strong-smelling toothpaste is also helpful, especially if it contains menthol.

Depending on how bad your alcohol breath is, you may want to brush your teeth for longer than usual.

Use Mouthwash

Once you've thoroughly brushed your teeth, it's helpful to also use a decent mouthwash to get rid of any remaining bacteria in your mouth. Mouthwash was created specifically to reduce bad breath and works great against alcoholic smells. Again, choosing a mouthwash with a minty or menthol smell really helps, or a mouthwash with a fresh lemon scent is also useful.

Gargle the mouthwash for the recommended time (which is usually around 30 seconds), then spit it out and rinse your mouth. If your breath is really bad, you might want to do the whole process again.

When used in combination with brushing your teeth, your alcohol breath should be largely eliminated.

Chew Gum (Sugar-Free Mint, If Possible)

Like toothpaste and mouthwash, minty chewing gum can help with alcohol breath. However, gum doesn't do a lot for the bacteria in your mouth like brushing your teeth will, but it does help cover up the smell of alcohol. Also, make sure to pick sugar-free gum as bacteria in your mouth love to eat sugar.

Sour flavoured gum is also a good option, as this will make your mouth produce even more saliva and minimize alcohol breath faster.

Have A Cup Of Coffee (The Next Day)

If you're struggling with alcohol breath the next morning, having a cup of coffee can help. Not only is it a nice option when you're tired from a night out drinking, coffee has its own strong smell which can cover alcohol breath nicely.

However, make sure not to drink coffee while you're still drinking alcohol. Mixing a depressant (alcohol) and a stimulant (coffee) is not a wise decision. Wait until the next day for a cup of coffee (or strong black coffee if you need a good pick-me-up!).

If you find that you suffer from extra long hangovers, read: Why do I get 2 day hangovers? Explained with solutions

Wash Yourself Off In The Shower

There's few things better than a nice hot shower after a night of drinking.

Not only can alcohol give you bath breath, but it can also seep into your pores, giving you an alcoholic smell straight from your skin. By having a shower after a night of drinking, you can help remove that alcoholic smell from your body.

Nice smelling shampoos, conditioners and body washes also help remove any unwanted smells. Plus a good hot shower can help you feel better if you're dealing with a nasty hangover.

Parting Thoughts On How To Get Rid Of Alcohol Breath Instantly

There you have it - we've covered everything you need to know about eliminating the bad breath caused by alcoholic beverages. At this point, you should feel confident heading out for a night with your crew without worrying about people running away from the smell of your breath.

By following these simple tips and tricks, you can minimise your alcohol breath in no time. Just make sure to drink in moderation and stay hydrated! And if you want to avoid the horrible hangover the next day, or minimize the effects of alcohol flush syndrome, our alcohol flush pills are the #1 solution. They'll be your new best friend anytime you tie one on!