Bad breath is caused by odour-producing bacteria that grow in the mouth. When you don't brush and floss regularly, bacteria accumulate on the bits of food left in your mouth and between your teeth. It is the sulphur compound released by these bacteria that makes your breath smell so unpleasant. There are myths about taking care of bad breath; here are three of them.

Myth #1 - Mouthwash will make bad breath go away

Mouthwash only gets rid of bad breath temporarily. If you do use mouthwash, look for one with antiseptic properties that will kill the germs that cause bad breath, and it should also have plaque reducing properties.

Myth #2 - As long as you brush your teeth, you shouldn't have bad breath

The truth is that most people only brush their teeth for 30 to 45 seconds, which just doesn't cut it. To sufficiently clean all the surfaces of your teeth, you should brush for at least two minutes, at lease twice daily. Remember to brush your tongue too. On the surface of the tongue, all the way to the back of the throat, is where a host of bacteria exist and your tongue needs to be cleaned thoroughly as this is usually the source of the bad breath. It is equally important to floss because brushing alone won't remove harmful plaque and food particles that become stuck between your teeth and gum.

Myth #3 - If you breathe into your hand, you will know when you have bad breath

When you breathe, you don't use your throat the same way as you do when you talk. When you talk, you tend to bring out the odours from the back of your mouth (where bad breath originates) and you don't do this simply by breathing. Also, because we tend to get used to our own odour, it is hard for a person to tell if he or she has bad breath.

Follow these simple steps tohelp treat bad breath.

Dr Dennis Jones is a general dentist in private practice; email:yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.