Target your tongue. Tongue scraping isn't all that common in Western oral hygiene. But Ayurvedic physicians have been recommending it for centuries. "It's very helpful, but few people do it;" Dr. Brauer says.

Tongue scrapers are hard to come by. If you don't have a tongue scraper, Dr. Brauer recommends using your toothbrush. You have to brush the very back of your tongue, which may cause gagging. "But with a little practice, you can overcome your gag reflex," he says.

Disinfect dentures. If you wear removable dentures or any other dental appliance, clean it daily and soak it in a commercial denture cleanser overnight.

Chew gum. Chewing gum gets your saliva flowing, which helps eliminate bad breath. Any ordinary gum will do-it needn't have special breath-freshening ingredients, Dr. Simons says.

Banish those butts. If you need another reason to give up smoking, here it is: Tobacco causes bad breath.

Other Good Choices

Chinese Medicine

Turn down the Heat. In Chinese medicine, bad breath results from excessive Heat in the Stomach. For treatment, Efrem Korn­gold, a.M.D., L.Ac., recommends consuming "cooling" foods such as cucumber, peppermint tea, and tomatoes. He also suggests avoiding "hot" foods such as coffee, alcohol, and spicy dishes.

Ayuredic Medicine

Nibble on fennel. Instead of mints, many Indian restaurants keep a bowl of fennel seeds by the door. Ayurvedic physicians often recommend chewing a pinch of fennel seeds after eating to freshen the breath.

Naturopathy

Discover the digestion connection. Naturopaths such as Joseph Pizzomo Jr., N.D., believe that poor digestion contributes to bad breath. Dr. Pizzomo's advice: Keep your digestive system functioning smoothly by eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet with plenty of grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Medical Measures

For bad breath, the most effective mouth­wash is a prescription product called Peridex, which contains the antibacterial antiseptic chlorhexidine. In one study, 6 months of regular rinsing with Peridex reduced oral bacteria by more than 50 percent. Dr. Replogle recommends rinsing for 30 seconds twice a day after brushing.

Some people get stains on their teeth when using chlorhexidine, but any stains can be removed by professional cleaning. Also, chlorhexidine may impair the sense of taste. If this happens to you, consult your dentist. He may suggest that you use the mouthwash a few times a week rather than daily.

Red Flags

If you suddenly develop persistent bad breath and it doesn't clear up after a few weeks of aggressive home treatment and professional teeth cleaning, consult a physician. A number of potentially serious conditions have bad breath as a symptom, including diabetes, kidney failure, lupus, liver and gallbladder disorders, and certain cancers.