Bad breath is not only embarrassing; it can indicate a more pervasive problem. It’s the 600-lb gorilla in the room that a lot of people try to ignore.

• Brush your tongue. Go way, way back. That hard-to-reach spot is a refuge for smelly bacteria. If using your toothbrush makes you gag, try a tongue scraper. Its thin profile may not trigger the reflex.

• Try The Smile Routine. Its Simple-6 Steps stop morning breath for most people and helps you to maintain a cleaner mouth and fresher breath throughout the day.