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Everyone suffers from time to time with bad breath(Halitosis is the medical term used). And while not everyone knows that they suffer from bad breath, it would be very rare, if not impossible, to live your entire life without ever having even a single occurrence of this very embarrassing problem. But often the problem is more than the smell of your breath, it the worry that you may have problem breath but that your friends and acquaintances are too embarrassed to tell you. So it is quite common to wonder what causes bad breath. But the good news is that it is easy to keep your breath under control once you have an understanding of the causes of bad breath.

From time to time everyone will suffer from bad breath. The most common cause of temporary bad breath is food. Onions and garlic are the most common examples of foods with such strong odors that they remain on one's breath for a long time. It has always been good advice when on a date to never order anything with garlic unless your date is also ordering a garlic based dish. Remember drinking and smoking will also cause your breath to smell.

Brushing your teeth or using mouth fresheners will only give you a short respite, because traces of the digested ingredients will find their way in to your breath from your blood. Nearly everybody knows about these kinds of aromatic foods and will now avoid them as much as possible. However many people still find themselves suffering from bad breath and will still be seeking the causes of their problem. There are several other causes for halitosis apart from smelly foods. The next most common reason is left over food particles in your mouth rotting in your mouth after getting stuck between your teeth. The mouth harbors several types of bacteria which cause bad breath. Finally, certain medical conditions such as ketosis may be responsible for a foul smell on one's breath.

Because there is no single reason for halitosis, it is best to consult a doctor if you suffer from chronic bad breath. A medical diagnosis may be required to uncover the primary reason in your particular case. A regular dental check-up will also uncover whether any aspect of your oral health is responsible for lingering foul odors. But your doctor may need take blood tests to establish systemic answers to your problem. Halitosis could be a result of a potentially serious condition, so medical evaluation of the problem is always a good idea.

However, you do not need to wait until you get a dental or a doctor's appointment to take action when there is a bad smell on your breath. Good oral hygiene habits will be adequate to treat most forms of bad breath given that you are in a good state of health. We all tell our children to brush and floss regularly, but it is surprising how many adults need to be reminded. So remember: Brush, Floss and Mouthwash!