Bad breath? Look to the garden for a quick fix!

If your mouth smells like an old gym sock, the remedy might be out in the garden.

Chewing on a sprig of mint or parsley might do the trick. You could also try coriander, spearmint, tarragon, rosemary, cardamon or eucalyptus. Compounds in black and green teas also can reduce the bacteria that causes bad breath.

Remember that your breath is what you eat: That means the smell of foods like garlic and onions are going to be wafting from your mouth until the food moves through your body, says the American Dental Association.

Brush and floss daily to prevent bits of food from hanging around in your mouth, rotting and collecting bacteria - and don't forget to brush your tongue, or use a special tongue scraper.

It's also common for "dry mouth" to cause bad breath, because saliva cleanses the mouth and removes food residue that could cause odor. A decrease in saliva production can be caused by medications, mouth-breathing or salivary gland problems, according to the ADA. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugar-free hard candies can help produce saliva, as will drinking more water.

Chronic bad breath might be a symptom of a bigger problem, such as gum disease, a respiratory infection, sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal ailment, liver or kidney ailment. Also, add bad breath to the laundry list of reasons to quit smoking. Remember the ad that compared kissing a smoker with licking an ashtray?