Ways to banish bad breath

Hal Atosis is reportedly a common character on Hollywood sets. “Kissing Clark Gable in ‘Gone with the Wind’ was not that exciting,” according to co-star Vivian Leigh. “His dentures smelled something awful.” And on the set of the 1999 movie “Forces of Nature,” Sandra Bullock is rumored to have given Ben Affleck a box of breath mints.

Some studies indicate that bad breath plagues almost a third of all folks. It often results from poor oral hygiene — not brushing and flossing regularly. And when it is chronic, it can be a sign of gum disease, GERD (acid reflux), diabetes, liver and kidney disease, H. pylori (a bacteria associated with stomach ulcers), and dry mouth from certain meds.

Step 1 to prevent bad breath is brushing two to three times a day, flossing daily and cleaning your tongue with your brush or a tongue scraper.

Step 2: If you still have bad breath, you need to see your dentist to determine if you have gingivitis (gum inflammation) or periodontal disease (which results from gingivitis and can cause tooth loss).

It’s important to reverse periodontal disease since it’s linked to an increased risk for dementia, as well as respiratory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, coronary artery disease, preterm birth and low birth weight, and problems controlling blood sugar in diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Step 3: If gingivitis or periodontal disease are not the problem, see your primary care physician to explore other medical issues that might be the cause.

Then you can breathe easy.

Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook. com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb. com, the world’s leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively.