That's Fit

Nobody wants raunchy breath, which is why mouthwash can be found in many bathroom cabinets across America. The crazy part is, though, it may actually cause your breath to smell worse.

If your mouthwash contains alcohol -- which about 90 percent of all brands do -- you may want to rethink using it before your next big date. As it turns out, alcohol dries your mouth to the point that bacteria gets stuck there, rather than being washed away by saliva. What's more, alcohol can actually feed surviving bacteria, say researchers from Tel Aviv University, causing your breath to smell even worse. So, swishing some mouthwash around may provide a quick fix, but it will probably be very temporary.

Try alcohol-free mouthwash for fresher breath and be sure to floss. Also, try not to go hungry, as prolonged periods of not eating have also been shown to cause funky breath. Then, you should finally be ready to pick up your date and not have to worry about them wilting like a flower.

Fight bad breath with these 6 tips

Halitosis, the technical term for bad breath (aka oral malodour, apparently), can be an embarrassing and touchy subject. Let's face it, nobody wants to repel people with their breath. There are a range of potential causes for bad breath, some of which are medical and may be helped by a simple visit to the doctor. Others though, have more to do with what you eat and various habits.

If you know you suffer from halitosis and want to try to remedy the situation, it might be worthwhile to take some (or all) of the advice suggested here. Avoiding food like garlic and onions might help, but apparently not eating at all may cause bad breath, so make sure eat a regular, healthy diet. Other tips include staying hydrated as dry mouth can cause foul breath, giving up cigarettes and looking after your mouth and teeth by brushing, flossing and gargling with mouthwash.

As mentioned, if none of these things seem to work, it's probably a good idea to make an appointment to discuss the situation with your doctor.

I once had a friend whose worst nightmare was the thought that she'd have terrible breath and everyone would know but her. It's an understandable fear because nothing halts a conversation faster than foul breath. Have you ever chatted with (or worse, kissed) someone and caught an overwhelming whiff of garlic or tuna that never really went away? How long did that conversation (or kiss) last? Not long, I'm guessing.

If you're worried about your occasional bad breath -- and keep in mind that chronic halitosis can be a sign of a serious condition and should be addressed with a doctor or dentist -- then check out this article that rates common odor-fighters on their ability to tame bad breath.

Testers tried out five tools for controlling breath odor including mist, mouthwash, toothpastes and even a tongue scraper and rated how fresh the products made them feel. It seems that they all worked but some better and for longer than others. Do you have any tried and true methods for dealing with bad breath?