Yes, persistent bad breath may be a by-product of other medical conditions. Common ailments like acid reflux and heartburn could leave a bad taste in your mouth. In other cases, germs and mucus build-up from a sinus infection could be what’s causing the issue. Slightly fruity breath that isn’t wholly pleasant or offensive is a tell-tale sign of diabetes, while a strong, ammonia scent has been linked to kidney disease.

Periodontal diseases can cause bad breath because of the presence of excess germs in the mouth. And dry mouth, which causes a decrease in saliva, leaves your mouth unable to naturally flush germs and food particles from your teeth and gums.

If you’re worried your bad breath might be a sign of a bigger issue, or if you’re just unable to tame it yourself by brushing, flossing and rinsing, talk to your dentist.

Bad breath may be caused by germs left behind in your mouth even after brushing. Brushing in fact, doesn’t reach all parts of your mouth. Think about it, when was the last time you cleaned under your tongue or on the roof of your mouth! LISTERINE^® reaches your whole mouth to remove 99.9% germs that cause bad breath, giving you a whole-mouth clean feel. LISTERINE^® mouthwash seeps deeper to attack the root of what causes bad breath making it far more effective than any superficial solution.

Yes and no. Since bad breath is often caused by dry mouth, chewing sugar-free gum can be a great way to get those saliva glands going. Not only will it help to flush out germs, saliva also helps usher unwanted food particles from your mouth before they can break down in your mouth.

Gums, candies and mints that are loaded with sugar, however, are not going to help. They may mask the odour, but they’ll do little to actually fight the germs that are causing your breath to smell. That’s because the sugar sticks to your teeth and gums where it can both break down to cause additional odour and increase plaque build-up. More plaque equals even more bad breath.

Your best bet is to brush, floss and rinse twice daily. This will ensure your mouth is optimally clean.

Unless you’re rinsing with a garlic and blue cheese-flavoured variety, no mouthwash will cause your breath to stink. In fact, studies show LISTERINE^® Mouthwash may even help get saliva flowing faster, thereby preventing dry mouth (which is linked to bad breath). For best results, use LISTERINE^® mouthwash twice daily, as directed, for 24-hour protection from germs.