1. Watch what you eat for breakfast and lunch. Foods high in sulpher, such as onion and garlic, are absorbed into the bloodstream, transferred to the lungs and then expelled. Proteins, such as meat and dairy products, convert to sulpher by the bacteria on your tongue. Sugar also feeds this bacteria and contributes to bad breath. So eating a hamburger with onions for lunch, with a candy mint to “freshen your breath” can cause a nauseating experience for people closest to us. 2. Keep your mouth moist. The thinner your saliva, the more oxygen it contains and oxygen kills bacteria. So increase the oxygen content in your mouth with frequent drinks of water, sugarless gum or oxygenating mouth rinses. Mouthwashes that contain alcohol fail to help, a s they dry out your mouth. A better solution is to use plain water. 3. Clean your mouth. You wash your hands, why not your mouth. Arrange for the tools. The time and a place to brush and floss after each meal and after eating snacks. As well as brushing and flossing your teeth, brush your gums, the inside of your cheeks and the roof of your mouth. Rinse well. 4. Scrape your tongue. Bacteria and sulpher that cause bad breath are on the tongue. Brushing the tongue may just spread the debris. Mouthwash does not remove it either. The best solution is to scrape it off. An upside-down spoon can be used to scrape your tongue, but a tongue scraper works best. Call our office and come by and pick one up. Scrape as far back on your tongue as you can. If you gag, just persist. You might be surprised by the amount of debris you remove. After a few scrapings, your food tastes better and your sense of smell improves. 5. See your dentist. If you cannot clean up your breath, the problem may be caused by periodontal conditions (gum disease) or medical conditions. Start with your dentist and get your teeth checked and cleaned at least twice yearly. All dentists are bad breath specialists. We can help you find the source of the odor and help you eliminate it. If the source is not in your mouth, we may recommend you see a physician to check for problems, such as respiratory infections, kidney problems, acid reflux and so on.