Ok, so what exactly causes bad breath and what can you do about it, if you're a sufferer?

Some of the causes of bad breath are pretty obvious. If you are going to eat strong-smelling foods such as onions and garlic then it's a given that for some time afterwards your breath isn't exactly going to be fresh. It's a relief to learn that foods of the above type only cause bad breath for a short period and then they cease to have that effect.

But, of course, there are other bad breath causes that can be more long-lasting. Food particles trapped in your mouth is one of these. Anaerobic bacteria just love these food particles and thrive on them and these bacteria cause bad breath.

A dry mouth with little saliva production is also a contributor to bad breath. Saliva is your mouth's natural mouthwash. Drinking alcohol can contribute to dry mouth or xerostomia, to give it its medical name.

If you have generally poor oral hygiene or if you're a smoker, these can both cause bad breath.

Bad breath can also be an indicator of a medical condition such as stomach, lung or bloodstream problems and diabetes.

Ok, so you know you have a bad breath problem, what can you do about it?

One of the best things you can do for starters is pay particular attention to good oral hygiene every day. Something a lot of people still don't do is brush the tongues as well as the teeth and gums. It will pay to get a tongue scraper as this will do a better job of removing stray food particles and dead skin from the tongue that can be contributory factors to bad breath.

You should make sure that you book regular check-ups with your dentist so that any necessary treatment can be arranged as quickly as possible so that oral health problems don't get chance to develop into something major.

If it's not practical for you to brush your teeth after every meal then you should at the very least swill your mouth with water to loosen and expel as many stray food particles as possible.

You should get into the habit of chewing sugarfree gum or sugerfree lozenges to encourage the production of saliva.

Another good habit to get into is the twice a day usage of mouthwash - morning and evening. The most sensible ones to pick are those that do not contain alcohol - far too many of them do.

Quit smoking and stop drinking alcohol and drinks that contain caffeine.

Eat more leafy green vegetables. These vegetables contain chlorophyll which is nature's own breath freshener.

The above are some good tips that will help you fight off bad breath.