How do I know I have bad breath?

How do I know I have bad breath?
Do I have bad breath and how would I know? They want to know how they
could find out if they have bad breath before it is revealed to them by
someone they love or work with. Even more embarrassing, is the thought
that they would have offended someone with their breath and not know
they offended them. The problem is, we are almost never able to smell our
own bad breath because of a phenomenon called adaptation in which the
olfactory (sense of smell) nerves in the nose become accustomed to our
own smell. When this happens only those we interact with can let us know
the problem exists or a dental professional can let you know about how
much bad breath gases from the volatile sulfur compounds exist in your
breath with a machine called a halimeter. Four simple methods to help you
test yourself for bad breath are as follows:
1. First take a piece of un-waxed, un-flavored white dental floss and
floss between your upper and lower back molars. Examine the floss. Is it
red or brown? Wait about 45 seconds and then smell it closely. Does it
have a bad odor?
2. The next test is to take a clean washcloth and then pull your tongue
forward with one hand grasping the tongue with the washcloth. With the
other hand and a clean white washcloth rub or scrape the furthest back
portion of your tongue two or three times. Again, wait for about 45 seconds
and then smell the portion of the cloth that was rubbed on the tongue.
Does it have a bad smell?
3. A third technique is to simply lick your tongue on your own clean wrist.
Wait, then smell. This technique does not get back far enough on the
tongue to be of best value but can be a quick test in a pinch for time.
4. Take a spoon, turn it upside down, and use it to scrape the very back
portion of your tongue. (Don't be surprised if you find you have an active
gag reflex.) Take a look at the material that has been scrapped off, usually
its a thick whitish material. Now, take a whiff of it. Not so bad? Pretty nasty?
This smell, as opposed to the sampling from the anterior portion of your
tongue, is probably the way your breath smells to others.

Bad breath or halitosis has been a problem for mankind since the beginning
of most of recorded history. Never before have there been effective
treatments for this condition until now. Most people will notice the
advertising media is saturated with products promoted to help with this
condition. Most, if not all of them, really do not work very long and some
make the problem worse. Alcohol based mouthwashes can, for example, dry
out the tissues in the mouth and cause the tissues to secrete plasma
proteins which worsen the condition over time. You will learn in this book
simple effective means and a cheap ways of eliminating bad breath.