bad breath?

Most of us don't know if our breath is no longer that desirable. Thus, to ensure we don't kill each other with our foul breath, we normally do this: cover mouth with the palm and breath, and smell it. And? And forever hold your breath. At least, there's no casualty here. Or, the safest (I always do this): gum chewing. The latter keeps breath fresh even if you don't open your mouth for a period of an hour or so. But when the gum's power is gone, man, it's back to silent mode again.
No one is spared from having a bad breath, as according to the author of the following article, published at The Freeman, our mouth is the "porthole" and our stomach as the "sewer." Please read...

Ewww! Bad breath!
By Debbie Duraliza, RN
Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Do people gag and cover their noses when you say “Hi”? If you brush your teeth three times a day but still sense that you have bad breath, trust me, you probably do.
Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Try to imagine your mouth as the porthole and your stomach as the sewer. The smell may come out of your mouth but the problem comes from inside your body.

If you don’t practice good oral hygiene after eating, food is left in your mouth. The food collects bacteria, rots, and causes a bad odor.

You want to know if you have bad breath? A quick way to check your breath is to lick the side of your finger, then let the saliva dry for a minute or so. Smell the spot and you’ll know what your breath smells like. Have smelling salts on hand, in case you faint.

Common food culprits
*Garlic
*Onions
*Cabbage
*Cheese
*Coffee

When these are digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, substances from the food items get into the air that you breathe out of your lungs. This can cause bad breath until all of the food is gone from your body.

What you can do
*Crank up your brush! Bacteria in your mouth break down food particles and create volatile sulfide compounds (VSCs), which smell like rotten eggs. In addition to brushing, try a tongue scraper for a clean sweep.
*Consult your dentist. Cavities, gum disease, dry mouth, or an abscessed tooth are just a few oral ailments that can contribute to bad breath.
*Dry mouth? If you are always breathing through your mouth, it can cause bad breath since you have less saliva to cleanse the mouth. Dry mouth may also be a side effect of the medicines you are taking.
*See your doctor. Respiratory infections, sinusitis, kidney and liver conditions, and diabetes are just a few of the medical problems that can cause bad breath.
*Stop smoking. D-uh! Do we really have to explain this one?
*Go natural. For a quick fix, munch on fresh parsley, mint, or ginger. These are natural breath fresheners.
*Drink tea. Lab studies have shown that drinking black or green teas blocks bacteria in the mouth from making the chemicals that smell bad.
*Chew sugarless gum. It stimulates saliva, which neutralizes acid and helps remove plaque, and freshens your breath. Gums containing the sweetener Xylitol can help limit the growth of bacteria.

You can also use a mouthwash. But if you need to constantly use something to freshen your breath, you should see your dentist/doctor to help find the cause.