Everyone has less than fresh breath at some point in their lives. Bad breath (or halitosis) can be caused in several ways, so how you deal with it can depend on what is causing it.

Bacteria in your mouth can cause bad breath. Since your mouth is a warm, wet place, it makes an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. The best way to keep the odor-causing bacteria in your mouth to a minimum is to brush your teeth carefully at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Use a soft-bristle brush and gently brush the surface of each tooth, including the hard to reach places like the back of your mouth.

You can also use your toothbrush to brush the topside of your tongue. There are many, many tiny grooves and bumps on your tongue where bacteria and small particles of food love to hide. Brushing your tongue helps contribute to a healthier mouth too. At first, this may feel funny and might cause you to gag. This is normal so try to relax your mouth and don't push the brush back so far.

In addition to brushing, it's also important that you floss your teeth at least once a day. You may not realize it until you try it, but there are probably a lot of food particles stuck between your teeth that brushing alone won't get out. Flossing also helps to remove plaque buildup along your gum line and prevent cavities.

If you wear braces, food particles may tend to get stuck in them and cause bad breath. Be sure to brush and floss carefully and ask your dentist if there are any special steps you should take to clean your teeth while you're wearing braces. In the long run, braces will help to improve your appearance and dental health, so a little extra attention to your teeth and gums now will be worth it.

More on bad breath:

* Bad breath can also be caused by the foods you eat. Everyone knows that garlic, onions, and other things that add spice to foods can wreak havoc when it comes to your breath. The oils and smells from these foods can be pretty strong for a while after you've eaten them, so just pack some sugar-free gum or mints with you. If you and your friends are all eating garlic bread, maybe no one will notice your garlic breath!

* If you smoke, you're going to have stinky breath. There's no way around that. In addition to being generally very bad for your body in other ways, smoking can stain your teeth and cause you to have chronic bad breath.

* Occasionally, bad breath can be caused by a more serious problem such as an infection in your mouth or sinuses or tooth decay (cavities). Some medicines may cause your mouth to be dry all the time and cause bad breath.

* In general, after you've brushed and flossed regularly, your breath is probably fine.

* Advertisers for gum, mouthwashes, and mints would like us to believe that their products are necessary for a great social life. Of course we can all use a breath mint once in a while, but most of us do just fine without them most of the time. If you're still concerned about your breath, privately ask a close friend or family member if they'll give you an honest opinion.