By SALLY JOHNSTON, EDMONTON SUN

Puckering up for a sexy kiss? Try nibbling on a stick of celery to sweeten your breath.

The water-laden vegetable can help banish oral odours more effectively than sugary mints or gum, which may actually worsen the problem.

"A dry mouth is what triggers bad breath in most people," said dentist Dr. Harold Katz, 56, founder of the worldwide California Breath Clinics. "You need to take in plenty of water to keep your saliva levels up."

Food and drink can be your friend or foe when it comes to battling dragon breath, said Katz, Los Angeles-based creator of Therabreath System oral hygiene products, which recently went on sale in Canada.

EVERYBODY HAS IT

Everyone has sulphur-releasing bacteria in their mouth to aid digestion. Normally the bacteria are kept in check by oxygen-rich saliva, but when the mouth dries out the rotten egg smell kicks in.

A quick fix is to drink a glass of water with lemon or to eat watery foods such as celery, carrots or an apple.

Many foods can trigger bad breath by changing the chemical balance in the mouth. Garlic and onions, which are notorious for causing rank smells, are two prime examples.

But dairy products and other foods are also culprits.

"About 75% of the population is somewhat lactose intolerant, especially Asians. There is some sort of reaction in the mouth where the bacteria target the proteins in milk and cheese and release the sulphur smell," said Katz.

Sugar also reacts adversely with oral bacteria, so Katz recommends using only sugar-free breath mints and gum.

Protein-rich meat is another major offender. So are cauliflower, cabbage and brussels sprouts, said Katz.

So-called "coffee breath" is due to acidity in java. And beware of booze. Alcohol makes the mouth very dry and smelly.

"I'm sure Mel Gibson's breath wasn't very fresh when he was pulled over," said Katz, referring to the drunk driving charges laid against the actor last week.

LOADED WITH ALCOHOL

Ironically, mouthwash is often loaded with alcohol and can exacerbate bad breath.

Katz created his TheraBreath line of toothpaste, oral rinse and gum after his teen daughter developed severe halitosis in 1994.

The products contain a patented oxygenating ingredient which keep oral bacteria under control. In Canada, the line is sold at Shoppers Drug Mart and London Drugs.

Katz will be at London Drugs, West Edmonton Mall, on Aug. 23 from noon to 1 p.m. conducting free breath tests.

Visit his website at www.therabreathcanada.com .

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STAYING FRESH

Dentist Dr. Harold Katz offers the following tips to beat bad breath:

• Avoid alcohol, meat, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, sugary gum and mints, dairy foods and coffee.
• Drink six to eight glasses of water a day.
• Don't smoke.
• Be mindful that some medications can cause bad breath including antihistamines, anti-depressants and birth control.
• Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day.
• Clean your tongue. A tongue scraper is handy but use it gently.
• Avoid toothpastes that contain the foaming agent sodium lauryl sulfaphate and mouthwash containing alcohol as they make the mouth dry leading to smelliness.
• Check your breath by licking the back of your hand and sniffing it.
• Know someone with bad breath but are afraid to tell them? Go to www.therabreathcanada.com and click on "Tell a friend about their bad breath." You can have an anonymous message sent from the folks at TheraBreath, informing the recipient that they have a problem.