In most cases, bad breath is caused by bacteria that live in your mouth. As the bacteria digest proteins that come from food debris, saliva, and mucus, the bacteria give off sulfur compounds. These compounds have strong odors. If your teeth are in good condition, brushing and flossing will help. But if you have broken fillings or any gum disease, you won't be able to get to all the bacteria and debris. In addition, a large number of these bacteria live in the tiny hairs on your taste buds. Use a tongue scraper or brush your tongue twice a day to help get rid of these bacteria.

Another cause of bad breath is a dry mouth. Saliva contains substances that get rid of bacteria. Saliva also washes away debris. If you have a dry mouth, you can:

• Drink water frequently
• Rinse your mouth to dislodge food particles
• Chew sugarless gum

Listerine kills some of the bacteria, but the bacteria that are left will grow back quickly. Newer mouth rinses, such as SmartMouth, can help get rid of bad breath.

Finally, sometimes bad breath is a sign of an underlying medical problem. If these suggestions don't help, talk with your dentist.