Halitosis. Stank breath. Dragon breath. Morning breath. We have some pretty colorful ways to describe bad breath, and none of them are flattering. And why should they be? The only thing worse than smelling someone else’s bad breath is having bad breath yourself. According to the Bad Breath Institute (which I bet you’d never heard of until just now), 35-45 percent of people worldwide have bad breath. That’s a lot of stinky mouths! If you find yourself dealing with bad breath on a regular basis, here are four possible causes for your halitosis:

• Tobacco Use

Smokers are already viewed as unhealthy pariahs in our society, and now we have yet another reason to give them a hard time (sorry smokers). Smoking is really bad for your oral health overall, but it’s also a leading cause of bad breath.

• Insufficient Brushing

Have you ever heard the phrase, “it’s now what you do, it’s how you do it,” or something along those lines? It’s quite applicable when it comes to brushing. You might be dutifully brushing your teeth twice a day (or more), but are you doing it correctly? Dentists recommend brushing for at least 2-3 minutes, and be sure to brush your tongue as well – bacteria that lives there can easily cause bad breath.

• Poor Oral Health

If you’re not great about brushing, and have developed some oral health issues, that can also lead to bad breath. Gum disease, cavities, cracked or broken teeth and even loose or cracked fillings can be to blame. These problems expose vulnerable tissue, which will then suffer decay – and decaying tissue will stink.

• Other Health Issues

Even if your teeth and gums are healthy, other health issues can impact your breath. Those that suffer from chronic acid reflux or GERD have acid coming up their throat on a regular basis, and that acid leaves a smelly residue in its wake. Sinus problems can also be to blame for bad breath – after all, that postnasal drip means mucous is running down your throat and the back of your mouth. Don’t you think that will leave a smell?