Move over Altoids, there's a far stronger breath mint that will soon be making it's way into town. Derived from magnolia tree bark, this new extract proved to be 17 times stronger and more effective than leading breath savers that are available today.

The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reports that this new super strong extract contains honokiol and magnolol. Right -- what the heck are those? According to researchers, these are the antibacterial compounds that give the extract its halitosis-fighting properties.

According to Men's Health magazine, Wrigley's gum already has plans to use this new bad breath-ending extract in a new line of their gum. Expect to see it on shelves by the end of the summer.

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Maybe you know you have it and want to fix it. Maybe you don't know you have it, and your friends are trying to figure out a tactful way to tell you. Either way, bad breath -- or its more scientific name halitosis -- isn't a friend to anyone.

Bad breath can be blamed on the food you eat, but it's also sometimes an indicator of an underlying problem. The Times Online recently reviewed popular bad breath solutions. Some of them are tried and true, and some are based on little more than word of mouth:

Tried, but not yet proven to be helpful:

• chewing on parsley
• chewing special gum
• eating yogurt
• chewing fennel seeds
• chewing magnolia gum

Some research indicates it might help:

• rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash
• brushing with baking soda
• popping peppermint oil
• scraping your tongue

Proven health habits to keep bad breath at bay:

• staying hydrated
• munching on fruit
• brushing frequently
• quitting smoking
• eating breakfast
• flossing daily
• seeing dental and medical professionals to rule out underlying problems

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A daily dose of yogurt isn't just good for your waistline. It's also good for your breath.

A new study suggests that eating six ounces of yogurt each day may keep your breath free of offensive odors. Credit goes to the active cultures found in yogurt and while further studies are in order for confirming these results, researchers say adding yogurt to your diet may be a safe and effective way to minimize bad breath.

There's a bonus too: In addition to decreasing odor-causing compounds in the mouth by 80 percent, yogurt seems to decrease the risk of plaque build-up as and the gum disease gingivitis.

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Bad breath is disgusting to many of us. Who wants to talk or even be near someone who extols a nasty smell every time they breathe or talk?

But, did you know that digestive enzymes, which are what our bodies use to break down foods and turn them into fuel -- can also lead to bad breath?

For those fans of raw eating, you probably already know that the digestive enzymes contained in many raw foods help those foods break down efficiently when they reach the stomach. Unknown to most of us, though, is that these digestive enzymes are completely destroyed in all cooked foods.

What to do? Our bodies can make up for these destroyed enzymes, but eating at least some raw foods would give the body a break every once in a while to focus on its real job when you eat: to power your body -- not make it smell bad.

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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.

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Most of us will suffer from bad breath at least once in our lifetime. In many cases, a quick brush of the teeth or a mint can take care of much of the problem, but others suffer from bad breath on a regular basis. Though in terms of general health, the problem may seem small, it can be socially difficult.

If you suffer from chronic bad breath, help may be on the way. Last week, 200 scientists descended upon Chicago for the International Conference on Breath Odor Research, for one reason and one reason alone: to conquer bad breath once and for all. Though they know that bad breath is caused by bacteria, and that most breath problems originate on the tongue, they want to further research on the causes and treatments of halitosis.

In the mean time, if bad breath is stopping you from getting close to someone you love or you find them avoiding you, here's some general advice on the cause and treatments of the condition.

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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?

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Isn't it awful when you show up to an afternoon meeting, only to realize your breath smells atrocious? At least for me, I can barely concentrate on what I'm saying for fear I might breathe to close to someone else's nose.

Of course mints or gum can provide some temporary relief for those around you, but according to this MSN Health article, you might try certain foods as a natural remedy for halitosis.

Reminding us that "breath odors originate not just inside the mouth but also from your digestive tract," the article recommends herbs like coriander and spearmint, yogurt (though you should make sure to get the kind with active cultures, not the overly processed stuff), fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber (apples, carrots, celery, etc) and foods rich with vitamin C.

So get a handle on that bad breath -- if not for your own sake, for the rest of us!

[via Lifehacker]

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Usually, I'm a little skeptical of alternative remedies unless they've been prescribed by a professional -- you never know what you're getting yourself into. But I recently came across this article, which offers unique (some might say bizarre) ways to aid common ailments, including (I kid you not), playing the didgeridoo for sleep apnea, shining a blue light in the mouth to combat bad breath and text messaging to quit smoking. I'm not sure how sure-fire these 'cures' are but I doubt they're harmful to your health so why not give them a try? By the way, the article wins the clever line of the week award in my books for "Brahms is the balm." Hysterical!

What wacky cures have you heard of?

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