Halitosis, more commonly known as bad breath, is an embarrassing hygiene issue that nobody wants to have, but most of us get it now and then. To find out how to cure bad breath, one must understand what causes it in the first place.

The mouth is filled with bacteria, and more often than not a dirty mouth is what causes bad breath. Food often gets trapped between the teeth and along the gum line, which then becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. When this area is not cleaned, bad breath occurs. Another common cause is eating food that has a strong odor, such as garlic, onions, and even alcohol. These types of food create a bad odor in your mouth, and some of them are absorbed by your body and enter the blood stream, causing you to breathe the odors through your lungs. Occasionally, bad breath can be a sign of a serious illness, such as diabetes, liver failure or kidney disease.

Learn how to cure bad breath by following these simple tips:

Brush your teeth and floss regularly.

For the best results, brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. This should effectively remove the food and bacteria trapped between your teeth and gum line.

Clean your tongue.

Brushing and flossing is not usually enough. The tongue is also a breeding ground for bacteria, dead cells and food debris. Use your toothbrush to brush your tongue or a tongue cleaner.

Hydrate often.

A dry mouth happens when there is not enough saliva in the mouth. This usually happens when you sleep and wake up with “morning breath.” But it can occur at any time of day. Saliva is necessary to help clean your mouth and wash away food particles. Drink a lot of water throughout the day to help stimulate saliva production.

Watch what you eat.

It is easy to avoid eating foods that tend to be the main culprits of bad breath, but you must also be wary of your diet. High protein and low carbohydrate diets may be good for your health but they can cause a foul odor in your mouth. Not eating enough carbohydrates will trigger your body to burn fat instead of sugar and, therefore, cause bad breath.

Visit your dentist.

If you have already practiced good oral care habits but still have bad breath, it might be time to see your dentist to check if your breath is being caused by a more serious issue.