Does a whiff of your breath make Fido roll over and play dead?

If you're brushing and flossing twice a day but still sensing there might be a problem, try changing your diet. Your mouth is only the porthole for bad stomach odors. Think of it as a sewer main breaking: You may smell it aboveground, but the actual problem comes from underground.

Garlic, onions, cabbage, cheese, and coffee are common culprits in bad breath. So is anything your body has particular trouble digesting. As the bacteria in your stomach break down foods, they release odors into and out of your mouth.

More ways to fight bad breath:

• Brush, brush, 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. Brushing may help your arteries, too. Here's another RealAge tip that explains why.
• See your dentist. Cavities, gum disease, periodontal disease, dry mouth, or an abscessed tooth are just a few oral ailments that can contribute to mouth odor.
• Don't skip meals. Not only do certain foods cause bad breath, but so does not eating.
• Stop smoking. Do we really have to explain this one? Read this report on a new antismoking drug.
• See your doctor. Sinusitis, bronchitis, respiratory infections, kidney and liver conditions, and diabetes are just a few of the medical problems that can cause bad breath. Could you have diabetes? Take this assessment.
• Nibble on fresh parsley, mint, or ginger. These are natural breath fresheners.

How do you know if you have bad breath? Here's a quick test.

Get your insides clean with our Herbal-Laxative it works like a tooth brush cleaning the sides of your intestines. Next time you really want to get clean inside and out Herbal-Laxative will do the job. It's probably one of the most cost effective actions you can take for better health and fresh breath