One of the most embarrassing issues we all face is bad breath. How do you tell someone they have it? How do you know if you have it? It is estimated that 40 per cent of adults suffer from chronic bad breath and we are actually incapable of detecting our own bad breath. Bad breath -- or halitosis -- is often caused by accumulated and excessive bacteria in the mouth. One of the worst spots is the back of the tongue.

To prevent bad breath consider the following options:

Avoid foods and habits that include odour-causing properties such as garlic, onions and dairy products. Avoid smoking. Other sources of bad breath may include stress, prescription medication and illness such as a sinus infection, diabetes or kidney failure.

Brush your teeth and tongue twice a day and floss daily. If this seems difficult, consider advancements such as electric flossers and multifunctional toothbrushes such as the new Reach Fresh Breath toothbrush which has a rubber tongue cleaner designed to remove bacteria and germs that cause bad breath.

See your dentist regularly. Sometimes bad breath can be caused by gum disease.

Drink lots of water to help your body get rid of smells from strong-tasting foods and keep your mouth from becoming dry. Other ways to avoid a dry mouth are breathing through your nose and avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol and dairy products.

If you're in a rush, you can always freshen your breath temporarily with gum, mints, sprays or mouthwash. However, these will only mask odour for a short while, and are not recommended to treat halitosis. A natural temporary remedy is chewing on parsley -- rich in chlorophyll, it is a natural mouthwash.

Check out these products that will help you fight bad breath.