A survey carried out to mark National Smile Month concludes that the UK's breath is not as fresh as it could be and that bad breath is a stinking problem for couples and colleagues.

Brushing teeth twice a day and cutting down on sugary food and drinks and visiting the dentist regularly is recommended for making mouths stay fresher.

But no-one likes to tell another they have bad breath and it is difficult to smell your own.

So a tip from the survey says: try the lick and sniff test. Simply lick the inside of your wrist, leave it for a few seconds and then sniff. If the smell is unpleasant, the chances are your breath is too.