Four out of five dentists surveyed at the American Dental Associations annual meeting held this past October said that men are more likely to suffer from chronic bad breath than women.

Ninety two percent of dentists report seeing patients with chronic bad breath, and more than 41 percent of dentists see six or more patients a week with a chronic bad breath, according to the 1995 4th Annual ADA/Colgate Pharmaceuticals Oral Health Trend Survey.

According to the survey, 63 percent of dentists indicate that lack of good oral hygiene is the leading cause of bad breath, and 51 percent say that the most effective treatment is regular dental cleanings with oral health instruction.

The cause of bad breath needs to be determined, not only because it's a social problem, but because it may indicate a health a problem. According to the survey, 21 percent of dentists rank gum disease as the second-most-common diagnosis of bad breath.

Bad breath can also result from a dry mouth, use of tobacco products, eating odor-causing foods, sinus or respiratory infections and some medical disorders. Dentists now know more about identifying and treating the oral conditions that cause bad breath. If you have bad breath, it's important to determine the cause, so talk with your dentist.

The following tips will help you maintain good oral health and reduce bad breath.

• Brush your teeth twice daily with an ADA-accepted flouride toothpaste, and clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaners.
• Brush your tongue daily, too.
• Rinse with an ADA-accepted flouride mouth rinse.
• If you need extra help in controling plaque, your dentist may recommend and ADA-accepted antimicrobial mouth rinse.
• Schedule regular dental checkups and professional cleanings.
• If you think you have constant bad breath, keep a log of the foods you eat.
• Keep your mouth moist.
• Ask your dentist if any of the medications you take dry your mouth, which can lead to bad breath.
• Use humidifiers during the heating season.
• Use a moisturizing nasal spray to control post-nasal drip, which can be a factor in bad breath.
• If you use tobacco, which causes bad breath, ask your dentist or physician for tips to kick the habit.