By Dr. Andrew Weil

Question: Best cure for bad breath?
I read about a cure for bad breath using Flora Balance or acidophilus. Do you think that this will help cure my breath problems?

Answer (Published 9/13/2010):
The most efficient way to eliminate bad breath is to find the cause and deal with that directly. Typically, bad breath stems from bacteria growing on food that accumulates between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums. The obvious solution is brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing between your teeth daily and brushing your tongue as well as your teeth with your toothbrush or gum scraper, a special metal or plastic instrument you use once or twice a day. Mouthwashes may help, but often don’t penetrate into the crevices of the tongue.

Read the full post on Best Cure for Bad Breath.

Did you know?
Dental problems affect more than your teeth. Gum disease and other mouth infections can increase the risk for heart disease and pneumonia.

Steps to take
Brush and floss your teeth at least once or twice a day. Get your teeth cleaned once or twice a year.