If you’re worried that your breath might not smell great, and you don’t care for mints or gum, Cleveland Clinic Wellness reports on an all-natural alternative: just a little bit of ginger. Here’s the scoop:

In a recent study, researchers found that ginger can neutralize the compounds that lead to stale, stinky breath. An active component in ginger known as 6-gingerol causes an enzyme in saliva to increase; the enzyme breaks down sulfur-containing compounds that smell bad and eliminates the lingering aftertaste of coffee and other foods.

The clinic notes that “a little goes a long way” and advises either chewing on a sliver of fresh, peeled ginger or making ginger tea by letting a few slices sit in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes. The clinic adds: “To get rid of vampire-caliber garlic breath, you need to switch tacks — try eating some apple, a mint leaf, or lettuce.”