Over 90 million people suffer from chronic halitosis, or bad breath. Since bad breath will affect us all at some point, it is important to know what causes it and how to get rid of bad breath once and for all.

1. Breathing into your cupped hand will not tell you if you have bad breath.
2. Mints will only mask odors.
3. Good oral hygiene is the best method of getting rid of bad breath.
4. Brushing alone is not enough to get rid of bad breath.
5. Onions and garlic are not the only foods that can cause bad breath.
6. See your doctor or dentist if bad breath continues despite preventative methods.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

• Bad breath, or halitosis, is a condition we will all suffer from at some time. It often sneaks up on us in the night or after we eat onion rings or garlic bread. The only thing worse than having bad breath yourself is having to be close to someone who is unaware that they have it. Believe it or not, you can brush your teeth every day and pop breath mints every few minutes but still have bad breath. If you want to get rid of bad breath once and for all, then it is time you start understanding the causes and solutions of bad breath.

• Most people mistakenly believe that they will be able to detect their own bad breath by exhaling into their hand. This does not work for two major reasons:
  1. Since we tend to get used to our own smells, you won't be able to smell your own breath.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath MSNBC: Be Kissable: Get Rid of Bad Breath (February 7, 2007)
  2. Exhaling and talking use the throat in different ways. Talking brings out odors from the back of the mouth (where most bad breath originates); exhaling does not do this.Nemours Foundation: What Causes Bad Breath?

• So what is the best way to tell if you have bad breath? There are three ways you can tell. Well, you can always ask someone else. However, if you'd rather avoid this, here are two other methods that work:
  1. WebMD advises that you lick the back of your hand or inside of your wrist. Wait for the saliva to dry, and then sniff it.WebMD: Bad Breath Exposed
  2. Use a spoon to gently scrape the back of your tongue, and then sniff the spoon.YouTube Video: How To Tell If You Have Bad Breath (Time: 0:55)
• If either of these methods result in a less-than-pleasant smell, chances are you have bad breath.
• YouTube Video: How To Tell If You Have Bad Breath (Time: 0:55)

• Although seeing your dentist is the first method listed, it is not always the first method you'll need to try. Visit your dentist if your bad breath continues after you've tried other techniques.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath Your dentist can help resolve some common causes of bad breath including:
  1. Gum disease or periodontal disease.MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath
  2. Untreated cavities.WebMD: Bad Breath Exposed
  3. Poor fitting dental appliances.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath
  4. Yeast infections of the mouth.WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath
  5. Dental caries.WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath
  6. Dry mouth or xerostomia.
  7. Abscessed tooth.MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Breath Odor
  8. Impacted tooth.MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Breath Odor

• Visit your dentist every six months for a professional cleaning and check up.
  1. According to the American Dental Association, you should let him or her know if you have had any surgeries or illnesses since your last visit.ADA.org: Oral Health Topics: Bad Breath (Halitosis)
  2. WebMD suggests that you bring a list of any medications and over-the-counter drugs you have been taking.WebMD: What you Should Know about Bad Breath
  3. The Mayo Clinic advises that you don't eat, drink, chew gum, smoke or brush your teeth for three hours before your appointment.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath
  4. Avoid wearing perfumes, scented lotions and scented lip gloss to your appointment because they may mask the odor, advises the Mayo Clinic.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath
  5. If you have taken antibiotics within 30 days of your appointment, check with your doctor to see if your appointment should be rescheduled. According to the Mayo Clinic, antibiotics can temporarily reduce the number of odor-causing bacteria.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath
  6. Be prepared to answer some of the following questions:MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath
     1. When did the symptoms first start and are they occasional or continuous?
     2. What type of oral hygiene regimen do you regularly follow?
     3. What is your diet like?
     4. Do you usually breathe through your mouth?
     5. Do you snore?

• Dentists are able to treat most of the causes of halitosis. If your dentist determines that the odor does not originate from your mouth or if your bad breath continues after visiting your dentist, then you should see a doctor to rule out any physical causes.WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath

• Sometimes halitosis can be the symptom of a physical ailment. Illnesses that cause bad breath vary from minor, such as postnasal drip, or more serious, such as diabetes. Therefore, you should contact your doctor if your bad breath persists despite practicing good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist.Nemours Foundation: What Causes Bad Breath? Some of the possible physical causes for bad breath include:
  1. Diabetes.MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures
  2. Gastro esophageal reflux disease (acid reflux).MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures
  3. Liver or kidney disease.MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures
  4. Respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis.WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath
  5. Localized infections.WebMD: Bad Breath Exposed
  6. Postnasal drip often caused by colds, allergies or sinus infections.WebMD: Bad Breath Exposed
  7. Chronic lung infections and lung abscesses.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath
  8. Throat or mouth infections such as strep throat.WebMD: Bad or Changed Breath
  9. Food particles trapped in the tonsils.WebMD: Bad Breath Exposed
  10. Cancer of the throat, mouth or lungs.WebMD: Bad or Changed Breath
  11. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.WebMD: Bad or Changed Breath
  12. Foreign objects trapped inside the nose.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath

• Here are a few tips on how to make the most from your doctor's visit.
  1. According to the American Dental Association, you should let your doctor know if you have had any surgeries or illnesses since your last visit.ADA.org: Oral Health Topics: Bad Breath (Halitosis)
  2. WebMD suggests that you bring a list of any medications and over-the-counter drugs you have been taking.WebMD: What you Should Know about Bad Breath
  3. The Mayo Clinic advises that you don't eat, drink, chew gum, smoke or brush your teeth for three hours before your appointment.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath
  4. Avoid wearing perfumes, scented lotions and scented lip gloss to your appointment because they may mask the odor, advises the Mayo Clinic.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath
  5. If you have taken antibiotics within 30 days of your appointment, check with your doctor to see if your appointment should be rescheduled. According to the Mayo Clinic, antibiotics can temporarily reduce the number of odor-causing bacteria.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath
  6. Be prepared to answer some of the following questions:MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath
     1. When did the symptoms first start and are they occasional or continuous?
     2. What type of oral hygiene regimen do you regularly follow?
     3. What is your diet like?
     4. Do you usually breathe through your mouth?
     5. Do you snore?

• At least 90 percent of bad breath originates in the mouth itself. The odor is the result of by-products given off by microbes living in your mouth or by decaying food particles.MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath The best way to combat this cause is through good oral hygiene including brushing properly, flossing daily, using a tongue scraper and properly cleaning oral devices such as dentures, retainers and mouth guards.

• You probably know that you should brush your teeth after every meal or at least twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste, but are you brushing properly?WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath ADA.org: Oral Health Topics: Bad Breath (Halitosis) Most people brush their teeth for 30 to 45 seconds, which is not good enough.Nemours Foundation: What Causes Bad Breath? Proper brushing includes:
  1. According to Dr. Rob at MSN Health & Fitness, brushing should last at least two to three minutes each time.MSN Health & Fitness: Get Rid of Garlic Breath
  2. Brush all tooth surfaces as well as along the gumline, the roof of your mouth, your cheeks, and your tongue.familydoctor.org: Halitosis (Bad Breath) WebMD: Bad Breath Exposed ADA.org: Oral Health Topics: Bad Breath (Halitosis)
  3. The Mayo Clinic advises using a soft-bristled toothbrush.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath
  4. Dr. Rob also advises people to replace their toothbrushes every two to three months or after you have had a cold or upper respiratory infection.MSN Health & Fitness: Get Rid of Garlic Breath

• Expert Village: Tooth-Brushing Techniques for Oral Hygiene (Time: 3:08)

• Brushing alone is not enough to remove bacteria, plaque and food particles around your teeth and gums.Nemours Foundation: What Causes Bad Breath? You should also floss at least once a day.
  1. WebMD suggests using an interdental cleaner such as water pick is a good alternative or supplemental to flossing.WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath
  2. To get a better idea of what is lurking around your teeth, WebMD suggests try smelling your dental floss after you're done flossing.WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath What you smell is the rotting food particles that were around your teeth and gums.

• Expert Village: Flossing Your Teeth Correctly: Dental Care & Oral Hygiene (Time: 2:27)

• Your tongue, especially the back of your tongue, can be a major source for bad breath. The tongue has millions of filaments that can trap tiny food particles and bacteria.WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath Studies show that brushing the tongue can reduce bad breath by 70 percent.WebMD: What you Should Know about Bad Breath However, for best results you want to use a tongue scraper.WebMD: Bad Breath Exposed
  1. MSN Health & Fitness recommends that people should scrape their tongues at least twice a day.MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures
  2. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should clean as far back on your tongue as you can without gagging.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath

• Just as you want to keep your mouth clean, you need to regularly clean anything that you put into your mouth including dentures, retainers and mouth guards.WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath
  1. Removable dentures should be taken out at night and cleaned thoroughly before being placed back in your mouth, according to WebMD.WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath
  2. Familydoctor.org suggests soaking your dentures in a disinfecting solution overnight.familydoctor.org: Halitosis (Bad Breath)
  3. WebMD advises that retainers be cleaned thoroughly every time you brush.WebMD: Bad Breath Exposed

• Mouthwashes are not only one of the more traditional methods of getting rid of bad breath, they are also becoming one of the most effective. In the past, mouthwashes did little more than mask bad breath odor.ADA.org: Oral Health Topics: Bad Breath (Halitosis) Today, many mouthwashes are capable of helping get rid of bad breath.MSNBC: Be Kissable: Get Rid of Bad Breath (February 7, 2007)

1. Avoid mouthwashes with alcohol. Alcohol dries out the mouth, which can cause bad breath.MSN Health & Fitness: Get Rid of Garlic Breath
2. Antiseptic, anti-bacterial or antimicrobial mouthwashes kill bacteria that can cause bad breath.MSNBC: Be Kissable: Get Rid of Bad Breath (February 7, 2007) WebMD: Bad Breath Exposed WebMD: What You Should Know about Bad Breath
   1. Since they rarely kill all of them and bacteria breeds, they are not enough to get rid of bad breath by themselves.MSNBC: Be Kissable: Get Rid of Bad Breath (February 7, 2007)
   2. Antimicrobial mouthwashes also help control plaque.WebMD: What You Should Know about Bad Breath
3. Mouthwashes with oxidizers will eliminate bad breath on contact, but don't prevent germs from producing new bad breath.MSNBC: Be Kissable: Get Rid of Bad Breath (February 7, 2007)
4. Mouthwashes with zinc ions both eliminate and prevent bad breath.MSNBC: Be Kissable: Get Rid of Bad Breath (February 7, 2007) Zinc ions reduce volatile sulfur compounds in your mouth that can cause bad breath.About.com: Home Remedies for Bad Breath
5. Mouthwashes that contain essential oils (such as tea tree oil, peppermint oil or lemon oil) also reduce volatile sulfur compounds in your mouth better than conventional mouthwashes.About.com: Home Remedies for Bad Breath
6. Mouthwashes with fluoride will help prevent tooth decay.ADA.org: Oral Health Topics: Bad Breath (Halitosis)

• If you use a mouthwash, make sure you swish in your mouth for at least 30 seconds before spitting it out.familydoctor.org: Halitosis (Bad Breath) Gargling with it is also helpful, according to WebMD.WebMD: Bad Breath Exposed

• Chewing gum masks bad breath odors and helps get rid of it by stimulating saliva production, which gets rid of dry mouth and cleanses your teeth and gums by clearing away food debris.WebMD: Bad Breath Exposed MSN Health & Fitness: Get Rid of Garlic Breath However, it should never replace regular brushing.MSN Health & Fitness: Good Taste: Top 5 Foods to Prevent Bad Breath

• A study of the cinnamon-flavored chewing gum Big Red showed that one of the ingredients in the flavoring (cinnamic aldehyde) was capable of decreasing the bacteria in the mouth.WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath However, this study was very small (15 subjects) and funded by the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, which happens to make Big Red gum.ScienceDaily: Popular Chewing Gum Eliminates Bacteria That Cause Bad Breath (April 1, 2004) Since Big Red gum contains sugar and sugar creates plaque which can eventually cause bad breath, it would be better to stick to sugarless gums that contain cinnamic aldehyde.MSN Health & Fitness: Good Taste: Top 5 Foods to Prevent Bad Breath WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath

• Most people know that onions and garlic can cause bad breath, but rarely do they know why. Certain foods contain odor-causing compounds known as volatile oils.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath When these foods are eaten, they are absorbed into your bloodstream.WebMD: What you Should Know about Bad Breath Eventually, the blood makes its way to your lungs and the compounds are exhaled. It can take up to 72 hours for these oils to leave your bloodstream. Bad breath will remain until then.ADA.org: Oral Health Topics: Bad Breath (Halitosis)
  1. Brushing your teeth, using mouthwash and chewing gum will only mask these odors because the odors are coming from your lungs, not your mouth.WebMD: What you Should Know about Bad Breath
  2. Examples of other foods that can cause bad breath include cheese, pastrami, certain spices, orange juice, soda and coffee.familydoctor.org: Halitosis (Bad Breath) MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures
  3. A good rule of thumb: if it smells bad going in, it will smell bad coming out.MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures

• If you have constant bad breath, try making a log of the foods you eat.WebMD: What you Should Know about Bad Breath You can then take this log with you to your dentist.WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath

• Just as some foods can cause halitosis, other foods can help eliminate it. Here are some ways you can use food to help get rid of bad breath:

1. Eat crunchy, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots and celery.MSN Health & Fitness: Good Taste: Top 5 Foods to Prevent Bad Breath Crunchy foods will help remove food, bacteria and plaque from teeth.About.com: Home Remedies for Bad Breath
2. Most people know that parsley is good at destroying bad breath. It's not the only herb. You can also chew on a sprig of rosemary, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary or cardamom.About.com: Home Remedies for Bad Breath They also work well if steeped in hot water.MSN Health & Fitness: Good Taste: Top 5 Foods to Prevent Bad Breath
3. A serving of yogurt once a day reduces the levels of odor-causing hydrogen sulfide and bacteria in your mouth.MSN Health & Fitness: Good Taste: Top 5 Foods to Prevent Bad Breath
4. Eat more carbohydrates.MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures A low-carb diet can cause a condition called "keotone breath."WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath
5. Unsweetened green or black tea contains polyphenols which stop the growth of bacteria that causes bad breath.About.com: Home Remedies for Bad Breath MSN Health & Fitness: Get Rid of Garlic Breath
6. Eat something. When you don't eat or are fasting, you can develop ketoacidosis that can cause your breath to have an unpleasant "fruity" smell.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath
7. Cranberries have been known to eliminate bad breath while also making bacteria "less sticky," which means it can't form plaque.MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures

• Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a common cause of bad breath.MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures Saliva gets rid of food particles and washes away dead cells that can produce a foul odor when they decompose.WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath Saliva contains antiseptic and enzymes, which reduces bacteria and neutralizes acids produced by plaque.WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath

• Our saliva production naturally slows down when we are asleep, which is why our breath smells bad when we wake. Age can also be a factor since you are more likely to become dehydrated the older you get.WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath Some other common causes of dry mouth include:
  1. Various medications especially antihistamines and antidepressants.WebMD: Bad Breath Exposed
  2. Salivary gland problems.WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath
  3. Continuous mouth breathing.WebMD: What you Should Know about Bad Breath

• In most cases, curing a dry mouth can be very simple: drink plenty of water.WebMD: Dental Health: Bad Breath This does not mean drink more coffee, sodas or alcohol.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath Drinking water should become a habit and not something you do only when you're thirsty because you may not always notice when your body needs it.WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath Here are a few more tips on how to keep your mouth from drying out:

1. MSN Health & Fitness suggests using a humidifier in the winter.MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures
2. Using a saline nasal spray to moisten your nasal passages if you have problems with snoring or postnasal drip is also helpful according to MSN Health & Fitness.MSN Health & Fitness: Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures
3. Eat foods such as apples, carrots and celery that increase saliva production.MSN Health & Fitness: Get Rid of Garlic Breath
4. Chew sugarless gum, which stimulates the production of saliva.
5. Avoid mints. According to WebMD, they usually do not stimulate the production of saliva and will only temporarily mask the odor.WebMD: 8 Easy Steps to Banish Bad Breath

• If these methods do not resolve your problem, pay a visit to your dentist. He or she may decide to prescribe artificial saliva or medication that stimulates saliva flow.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath

• As the saying goes, "Kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray." Tobacco Education Clearinghouse of California: Poster J347 Smoking dries out your mouth and can lead to chronic dry mouth, which in turn causes halitosis.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath Smokers also have a higher chance of periodontal disease, which causes bad breath.MayoClinic.com: Bad Breath However, cigarettes aren't the only form of tobacco that causes bad breath. Using any tobacco product can cause halitosis.familydoctor.org: Halitosis (Bad Breath)

• • For more information, check out Mahalo's how to quit smoking and how to quit smoking videos.

• Vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin D, B vitamins and zinc are all known to help prevent or get rid of bad breath.

1. Vitamin C will help prevent gum disease and gingivitis, which can cause bad breath. MSN Health & Fitness: Good Taste: Top 5 Foods to Prevent Bad Breath It can also help your body get rid of excess mucus and toxins that cause bad breath.Health 911: Bad Breath Remedies
2. A lack of B vitamins, especially B6, can cause bad breath.Health 911: Bad Breath Remedies
3. Vitamin A is important for healthy teeth and gums and speeds up healing.MedlinePlus: Vitamin A
4. Vitamin D helps create an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth in your body.MSN Health & Fitness: Good Taste: Top 5 Foods to Prevent Bad Breath
5. A zinc deficiency has been known to cause bad breath.Health 911: Bad Breath Remedies

• Bad breath doesn't have to be a problem. Once you know why you have it and how to get rid of it you will be able to avoid embarrassing situations in the future. Not to mention, fresh breath makes those intimate moments all the more special.