Here are several ways to test for bad breath:

1. Lick your hand. After a few seconds take a whiff; if it smells you probably have bad breath at this time.

2. Floss between your teeth and then smell the string. If it gives off a bad odor, you guessed it: you have bad breath. Don’t let the faint odor of mint fool you. That is probably just the floss itself.

3. If your tongue is white, especially in the back, there is a good chance that you have bad breath. This is not a full proof test, but a pretty good indicator that something is going on.

4. Use a halimeter. While this is not something you can do at home, because you don’t have the right equipment, your doctor may be able to assist. A halimeter measures the amount of volatile sulfur compounds.

Don’t know if you have bad breath? In this case, complete one or a few of the tests detailed above. When you test for bad breath you can take all the guesswork out of the equation.

One main source of bad breath is the bacteria in your mouth. Bacteria that build up on your teeth and tongue can lead to bad breath as well as many other issues such as cavities, etc. To rid of bacteria it is important to thoroughly brush your teeth and tongue after every meal.

Another common source of bad breath is acid reflux. If you suffer from this medical condition there is a good chance that bad breath will show up as a symptom. Even though this may sound horrible on the surface, think about it this way: if you treat your acid reflux there is a very good chance that you will be able to rid of your bad breath for good.

Finally, do not forget the obvious – foods that can cause bad breath. The two main culprits are onions and garlic. Cut out these foods and you may be surprised at how much easier it is to control this problem.

Now that you know a few sources of bad breath you should be able to narrow down the cause and hopefully find a solution.