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== What causes bad breath? ==
Another cause of bad breath is eating stinky or spicy foods such as onions, tuna, flavored potato chips, chilies, beef jerky, horseradish, and garlic. "Smoking can also contribute to bad breath," says Pullins.

Dry mouth causes stinky breath as well. It stems from a lack of saliva, and saliva has the important job of keeping the mouth clean. "Dry mouth can have many causes, such as medications, salivary gland problems or mouth breathing," explains Price. Indeed, decreased saliva production at night or a drying out of one's mouth due to snoring all night is why many people wake up with what we refer to as "morning breath."

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But the most common cause of bad breath is the presence of bacteria. "There are hundreds of types of bad breath-causing bacteria living naturally in your mouth," explains Price. "These bacteria grow in your mouth, which acts as a natural hothouse." She explains that mouth bacteria feed on the plaque between teeth and on the leftover food after we've eaten, "which leads to a foul-smelling waste product being left behind."

Heath says that one of the most common places to find an accumulation of these bacteria is on the tongue. "If you fail to clean this surface, the buildup can cause your breath to really stink," she explains.

And while Pullins agrees that "90% of halitosis cases originate from an oral source," he says there are times when smelly breath is also related to gastrointestinal issues like acid reflux or GERD, or due to certain medical conditions such as liver or kidney disease.

While conditions like these often require additional medical intervention, Price says that bad breath can generally be prevented by staying hydrated and by regularly eliminating bacteria through good oral hygiene. "It's also wise to avoid smoking and to steer clear of the foods that lead to bad breath," she says.

''This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What causes bad breath? Halitosis and how to get rid of it''