I've been away from blogging for a few months because I've been on an important quest -- to help get rid of bad breath once and for all. And I want to tell you a little about what I found in my journeys.

There are many different causes of bad breath, and each of them can produce their own, unique form of oral odor. It's important to know what all of these things are so you can avoid them or take the proper steps to combat them.

Here's a lexicon -- but by no means comprehensive one -- list of the causes of bad breath, both rare and common. Some of these problems have even appeared in the news recently.

There's a lot going on during the day that contributes to bad breath. But there are a few things you can do to help yourself.

Compared to many of the other "bad breaths" I've discussed, stomach breath is probably the least common. This is because gastrointestinal issues that could lead to bad breath are usually pervasive enough for someone to seek treatment.

Despite common perception, bad breath is not just a topic to be taken lightly. For many, halitosis is part of daily life, whether it's suffering from it or working or living with someone that has foul breath.

Cocktails can leave behind a very strong odor for hours after they have been drunk. Bar-goers often leave establishments with foul-smelling breath.

If you are considering jumping on one of these celebrity diet bandwagons, you may want to take steps to guard against bad breath.

Saliva serves several functions, one of which is to protect and help repair your teeth from the constant assaults mounted by bacteria and your diet. Without sufficient amounts of saliva, your teeth are left unprotected.