Kippers kick bad breath into high gear

Certain foods and beverages are known for their ability to cause bad breath. These include garlic, onions, milk, coffee and savory meats. However, one food product that has gone into decline in the U.S. - the kipper snack - used to be on the minds and breath of countless Americans.

Kippers, or kipper snacks, are essentially nothing more than pickled herring. The small fish is typically slit along its length, gutted and salted or smoked. Today, they are not particularly popular in the U.S., but at one time they were widely eaten in North America and the U.K., often for breakfast, according to Alaska's Capital City Weekly.

You may have seen them while walking down the canned food aisle of the grocery store. They are often sold in small tins, like sardines. If you're unsure if you've ever eaten one, then chances are you haven't. Kippers have a very distinct taste and resulting oral odor. It's a pungent, fishy smell that is difficult to wash of your hands, much less your teeth.

Scientists who test the capability of halitosis-fighting products sometimes ask participants to eat kippers or anchovies first, as in a recent study in the Open Analytical Chemistry Journal. How do you get rid of kipper breath? Using a specialty breath freshening rinse is a good start.