Halitosis is also known as bad breath. It is an extremely embarrassing problem for many people to deal with. Bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth and decaying food residue. The mouth has many places where particles of food as well as bacteria can hide and proliferate bad odors. This can be on the tongue, behind and between teeth, on the gums, etc. Bacteria thrive in environments where there are nutrients on which they can feed on. While not all bacteria found in the mouth cause Stinky breath, a great number of them do, so it is important to take action in order to prevent their growth. The following guidelines will help you eliminate or significantly reduce your halitosis. If you experience chronic bad breath, see your dentist or doctor as there may be a more serious cause for the embarrassing condition.

1. Believe it or not, saliva is your best weapon against bad breath. That's why dry mouth, often caused by certain medications or medical conditions, leads to odor problems. By washing away food particles and bacteria, saliva helps to eliminate odor, too.

2. Prevent bad breath by visit your dentist on a regular basis (every six months or as indicated by your dentist) for a complete examination of your teeth and gums and thorough cleaning by the dental hygienist.

3. In order to prevent bad breath, you should also avoid certain types of foods that are known to cause it, or at least brush thoroughly after having them. This includes many types of cheese, onions, garlic and coffee.

4. Most people use a mouth wash purchased at a store. A simple rinse remedy is to dissolve about a quarter teaspoon or less of salt in lukewarm water and gargle. You may rinse your mouth only once a day and that is probably in the morning. It is a good idea to also rinse your mouth before going to bed. Since the mouth is usually closed while sleeping and anaerobic bacteria do not need oxygen, rinsing at night might be more effective.

5. If you're on one of the many popular low-carb diets, remember that bad breath or "ketone breath" is a potential side effect when you always have that burger sans bun. You can try different methods of masking the odor, such as gum or tart candies, but adding a few carbs to your daily diet might also do the trick.

6. An easy way to prevent bad breath is to chew parsley after a meal. Parsley contains chlorophyll, a known breath freshener.

7. It is a good idea to start by establishing good daily hygiene oral hygiene habits. Brushing your teeth helps dislodge bacteria and pieces of food stuck in your mouth, in addition to contributing to dental health by helping prevent the formation of cavities and tooth decay. It is recommended to brush at least twice a day, however it is much better if you brush your teeth after each meal. Brush your tongue as well, as it contains many spots where bacteria may hide. This is one of the best bad breath cure.

8. Next, you should make sure you schedule visits with your dentist twice a year. It is important to have your teeth cleaned professionally. Also, your dentist will be able to tell if you have problems or may foresee a potential problem. They can give you advice on the preventative steps you can take.

9. There are other foods other than onions and garlic that contribute to bad breath. Understanding why and how they contribute to bad breath will put a new perspective on how to get rid of bad breath. Although foods not the only culprit of bad breath, cutting down on these foods will decrease bad breath considerably.