Coffee and soda are known to cause bad breath as well. All tobacco products can cause bad breath aside from other health danger they can cause. Dryness of the mouth is another reason why people have bad breath. It is more often the reason to children since they have habits of sucking objects including blanket that quickly dries the mouth. A mixture of these 2 can be used as toothpaste. Put the mixture to your toothbrush and brush your teeth like you normally do. Baking soda alone will work fine too. A pinch of baking soda, a pinch of salt, one part water, and one part hydrogen peroxide. A mixture of these can be your mouthwash. Use a tongue scraper and follow it up by toothbrush. Child often does this as a habit. Any foreign object trapped in the nose of your child can prevent a free flow of air on the nostrils which makes breathing hard. This also forces your child to breathe to his mouth and will, in turn, dry his mouth. 2. Periodontal diseases. Bad breath is also associated with periodontal diseases such as tooth decay, gingivitis, and plaque. Myth #2 You can tell if you have bad breath by licking your hand as smelling it or by breathing with your hands cupped between your mouth and nose. First, if you lick your hand, the only portion of the tongue that will be used is the anterior portion. Since bacteria that cause bad breath reside at the back of the tongue, you can still not tell if you have bad breath or not. Quit smoking, stop drinking coffee and soda, and avoid foods that can cause you that foul smell such as cabbage, onion, and garlic. Switch to tea. Eat fruits and vegetables that contain natural fiber. Also, you can make your own toothpaste and mouthwash. A mixture of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part salt is an effective alternative for toothpaste. Regular toothbrush cannot cover the entire surface area of your teeth so you need to use dental floss at least once a day and mouthwash. If possible, avoid commercial mouthwash that contains too much alcohol. Alcohol contributes to dry mouth. Dry mouth is where bacteria thrive most and bad breath begins.