Just what causes bad breath and what can you possibly do about it?

There are a few pretty obvious causes of bad breath. We all know that if we eat pungent foods like garlic and onions, then for a certain amount of time afterwards we have pretty whiffy breath. Fortunately, these types of foods are only temporary causes of bad breath and their effects will eventually wear off.

What about the other causes that can be more long-lasting? Most bad breath is caused by food particles that are trapped in our mouths. Any food that is trapped in the mouth for a long period becomes a breeding ground for the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath.

Having a dry mouth can also lead to bad breath. Adequate saliva production will help to prevent bad breath and anything that stops saliva production, such as drinking alcohol or being anxious is bad news as far as your breath is concerned.

If you don't look after your oral hygiene and/or you're a smoker, then you may suffer from bad breath.

On a more serious note, bad breath can indicate an underlying medical condition such as lung, stomach or blood problems or even diabetes.

If you know that you have a problem with bad breath, how can you combat 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.

Get regular checkups and remedial treatment from a dentist to ensure that no oral health problem is allowed to creep up on you unawares.

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.

Chew sugarfree gum or sugarless lozenges to stimulate saliva production.

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.

Stop smoking and avoid alcohol and caffeine.

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

All of the above tips, if practised, will help you to alleviate your bad breath symptoms.