Why do i have bad breath even briefly after brushing? i am 19 and only went to the dentist once and i believe that was in 1st or 3rd grade.. i brush, a lot, and also rinse maybe one to three times a day? what could this be?

Consistent : Consistent bad breath is called halitosis. There are some obvious things that can cause your breath to have an odor- like eating onions, using snuff or smoking cigarettes or cigars. One of the biggest reasons for bad breath is when bits of food get stuck on our between your teeth, under your gums or on your tongue. After the food particles have been there for a while, they attract bacteria and the buildup causes an odor. This can be caused by not brushing or flossing adequately. There can be a similar problem when dentures are not properly cleaned. Since you already brush your teeth three times a day, the next question is if you floss between teeth and around the gums daily. If you already have excellent oral hygiene there can be medical causes like dry mouth, sinusitis, postnasal drip, diabetes, GI problems or respiratory infections. Since the first step to improving or preventing bad breath is finding the cause, since you have not been to the dentist in quite a few years- that is a good first step. Good luck.

Gum Disease: The two most common causes of bad breath are gum disease and acid reflux. Go see a dentist for a periodontal check.

Brush tongue & floss: While acid reflux can be an issue, it is no longer considered a primary cause of bad breath. The major causes of non-food related breath odors (garlic etc.) are gum disease and rotting food particles on the tongue. Floss daily & use a toothbrush w-toothpaste to brush as far back on your tongue as possible. (colgate total with antibacterial triclosan works great!) voila, no more bad breath!

Sulfur products: You must keep your tongue and gums healthy and clean. You must rule out acid reflux and sinus infections as well.

Bacteria: Sounds like you need an examination by a dentist to rule out the most likely cause- a dental disease. Now is the time to start down the right road.