There’s no mistaking a funky mouth odor when you smell it. But how to get rid of bad breath that persists even after you brush your teeth isn’t always so straightforward. Bad breath can have a number of causes that go beyond just eating a strongly-scented food. (Garlic bread, anyone?) Here, we explain what causes bad breath and share a top dentist’s best tricks to get rid of bad breath fast.

What causes bad breath that’s hard to get rid of?

Often, bad breath is related to dry mouth, especially after menopause, says Irina Kessler, DDS, of New York Family Dental Arts in Manhattan. The same hormonal changes that often cause skin or vaginal dryness can also make your mouth drier, found a study in the Journal of International Society of Preventative & Community Dentistry.

This can result in bad breath, changes in taste or even a burning sensation in your mouth, research shows.  “When there isn’t enough saliva flow in the mouth, bacteria can build up and cause odor,” Dr. Kessler explains.  

Your breath might also have a funky smell if you have an old filling or crown that needs to be replaced. “Bacteria can seep through [under the filling or crown] and cause bad breath,” Dr. Kessler says. Other culprits include gum disease, smoking, diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), tonsil stones or poorly fitting dentures, just to name a few.

How to get rid of bad breath

Since bad breath can have so many underlying causes, it’s a good idea to let your doctor or dentist know if you’re persistently plagued by the problem, Dr. Kessler notes. Treating the root cause will often help make your breath smell better — and potentially improve your overall health.

But in the meantime, you’ll likely just want to get the odor problem under control ASAP. To do that, try one of these easy tricks to get rid of bad breath in a hurry.  

1. Savor a yogurt parfait

Probiotics, those beneficial bugs that help your body maintain a balance of good and bad bacteria, don’t just live in your gut. They also live in your mouth, and they can play a key role in oral health, Dr. Kessler notes.

Having higher levels of bad oral bacteria is linked to a greater chance of bad breath as well as gum disease, per a study in Frontiers in Oral Health. But getting more good bacteria (like Lactobacillus reuteri or Lactobacillus salivarius) in the form of probiotic-rich foods like yogurt can help neutralize odor-causing bugs and make your breath smell fresher, suggests a review in BMJ Open.

Tip: Not a fan of yogurt for breakfast? You could also try a dissolvable oral probiotic tablet like Biocidin Botanicals Dentalflora Daily Oral Probiotics.

2. Fine-tune your flossing habits

Sounds obvious,  but are you flossing your teeth regularly? Only around 40% of us do, according to Journal of Periodontology data. While brushing cleans the surface of your teeth, you need to floss in order to sweep away all the tiny food particles that end up between your teeth.

“When you don’t floss daily, bacteria in between your teeth don’t get removed, even if you brush your teeth,” says Dr. Kessler. “These bacteria can cause decay as well as bad breath.” So if it’s not part of your regular routine, get in the habit of flossing at least once per day, recommends the American Dental Association.

Dr. Kessler suggests asking your dental hygienist for a quick demo to make sure you have your technique down. And stick with regular floss over dental floss picks. “They don’t clean properly because they don’t take the shape of the soft tissue by every tooth crevice,” she explains.

3. Sip green tea

A cozy cuppa green tea isn’t just relaxing — it might make your breath smell better, too. The beverage is rich in catechins, a potent antioxidant with antimicrobial properties that fight off bad breath, found a study in Dental Research Review. Try sipping a cup after eating to rinse away lingering food particles and fight off bad bacteria. Don’t have time to drink a whole cup? Even a quick swish-and-rinse can be beneficial, the researchers concluded.

4. Try a baking soda rinse

The kitchen staple that you grab for baking and cleaning can also help get rid of bad breath. How? It makes your mouth less acidic, killing off odor-causing bacteria, found a study published in the National Journal of Maxillofacial Surgery.

You can make a DIY baking soda rinse by stirring 1/2 tsp. of baking soda into 1/2 cup of warm water, per the researchers. Swish it around your mouth like mouthwash once daily after brushing and flossing for a few seconds, then spit it out, Dr. Kessler recommends. Bonus: It’ll brighten up your smile, too, by lifting set-in stains, Dr. Kessler adds.