Bad breath can be really embarrassing - and expensive, if you've tried all the sprays, gums and mints you can find. But what really causes halitosis and how can you treat it, instead of just covering it up? Of course, spicy foods and those that contain high levels of sulfur compounds, like onions, garlic and cabbage, can cause bad breath temporarily. If you find that you always have bad breath, no matter what you eat, then your halitosis may be chronic. Reducing the amount of bacteria in your mouth is key to treating this type of halitosis.

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Bad-breath bacteria thrive in a dry mouth, so alcohol-based mouthwashes, which dry the mouth further, actually make the problem worse. Good oral hygiene, including flossing, brushing teeth and tongue, and scraping the tongue, where bacteria flourish, can help when performed at least twice a day. Tongue scrapers seem to be more effective in banishing bacteria than simply brushing. Your diet can be adjusted to promote good breath, too.
Water dilutes and washes away halitosis-causing bacteria and makes the mouth moist, rendering it inhospitable to those types of bacteria. Eating crunchy fruits and vegetables helps keep your mouth clean by sweeping food particles and plaque from teeth as you eat. Avoid tobacco, coffee and other trigger foods. {relatedarticles}Chew sugarless gum after meals - sugar simply feeds existing bacteria. The first step to improving breath is to rule out any medical or dental conditions that could cause halitosis, so a doctor or dentist visit is in order. Also check the medicine cabinet to see if your bad breath might be a side effect of prescription or over-the-counter medications.