Decongestant: any one of a few drugs which help reduce mucus build-up

Halitosis: the medical term for bad breath

Post nasal drip: the flow of mucus from your nasal passages down the back of your throat

2torial #0761: Learn2 Cope with Bad Breath (continued) Clean up your mouth Good dental hygiene is very important for any number of reasons, but for some, bad breath tops the list. Dentists have to deal with bad breath all day, and quickly become experts on the problem. Get a dental cleaning at least twice a year. Not only will this keep the amount of plaque in your mouth down, but it'll also reduce the amount of bacteria and other nasty stuff that lives at your gumline. Keeping your gums in shape will reduce mouth odors, and let you keep your teeth longer. Brush your teeth at least twice daily. Brushing frequently throughout the day greatly reduces the amount of debris that lies rotting in your mouth. All that stuff that's caught between your teeth doesn't smell very nice after a short time, and it's gross besides. Brushing your teeth before going to bed is also very important, giving you a clean mouth for the hours of sleep ahead, not to mention preventing a night of bacteria working on your teeth. Floss, floss, floss! Dentists always tell us that flossing between our teeth is important, but lots of us don't do it. How many more of us would floss if we knew that flossing would improve our breath? Flossing regularly is the best way to remove debris from between your teeth, and keep your mouth clean. If you don't believe this has an effect, just smell the floss after it's been used--you'll become a flossing convert! Don't just brush your teeth--brush your whole mouth. Brushing your tongue may seem strange to some, but it's a good thing to do. Plaque and other bacteria grow on your tongue, as well as your teeth, and bad breath results. The back of the tongue is an especially wonderful environment for nasty stuff to grow, and should have special attention paid to it--stick your tongue out in the mirror and look at it to note the buildup. The only problem is that many of us gag when brushing this area, and need a special scraping tool (no kidding) to scrape our tongues with. Ask your dentist where to order one of these handy gadgets. Use a mouthwash for short-term help, especially in the morning. Get one that "kills germs" in any flavor you want.     Step 2