Could you be missing some kissing because you suffer from dog breath? If your sweetie backs away from your sweet nothings, maybe so. How do you know for sure?

The old blow-in-your-palm-and-then-sniff test may not tell the tale. If direct questions to good friends still leave you wondering, consult a bad-breath expert: your dentist or dental hygienist. These guys study halitosis (bad breath). They can scope out what's causing your mouth to reek and recommend ways to quell it.

Bad-Breath Baddies

Here are some common halitosis troublemakers:

  • What you put in your mouth: major news flash! Garlic can give you bad breath, and so can onions. These foods contain strong-smelling oils your blood carries to your lungs. Those oils scent the air you exhale. A high-protein diet, infrequent eating, alcohol, and smoking or chewing tobacco can cause bad breath, too.

  • How you clean your mouth: slacking in the toothbrush/floss department? Bits of food stuck between your teeth or in your gum line actually rot and give off a strong odor.

  • What's growing in your mouth: gum disease, caused by plaque (sticky nearly invisible film), lets odor-causing bacteria grow between your teeth. If you have gum disease, you'll probably have a bad taste in your mouth or bad breath along with bleeding, swollen gums.

From an Expert's Mouth to Your Ear

"The best way to take care of bad breath is to take good care of your teeth," says Andrea Warner, RDH, a registered dental hygienist in Arcata, California. "We don't tell people to floss just to torture them!"

To give bad breath the boot

  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day for at least two minutes. Brush gently (hard brushing can actually wear your gums away) but be sure to clean all tooth surfaces. Use fluoride toothpaste with the ADA (American Dental Association) seal of approval.

  • Floss your teeth after meals (ideally), but at least once a day (realistically).

  • See your dental hygienist for a professional cleaning twice a year.

  • Brush your tongue. No, really. Soft brushing of your tongue will remove bacteria and tiny food bits that can give off unpleasant odors.

  • Avoid foods like garlic and onions, especially for a few days before you want to impress someone (which probably eliminates garlic pizza the night you're hoping to score a kiss with your crush — unless you both indulge).

  • Don't smoke or chew tobacco, which contributes to both bad breath and gum disease.

  • Drink lots of water. A dry mouth can give you bad breath. The reason? Saliva washes your mouth, mopping away bacteria and food particles.

  • Gum and mints may help mask bad breath for a bit. They might also help stimulate the flow of saliva.

  • Some mouthwashes worsen halitosis because they contain alcohol, which dries out your mouth. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist about mouthwashes with chlorine dioxide for neutralizing odors.

If All Else Fails

You've done everything possible, but you've still got halitosis? Boomerang back to the dentist. If she or he gives your mouth the "all clear," then you may be referred to your family doctor to rule out a medical problem. Don't stress, though. Dental hygienist Andrea Warner says, "Rarely is halitosis a sign that something serious is going on systemically."