If you or that special someone has bad breath—also known as halitosis—it could really cause a problem with your love life. But you’re not alone—bad breath affects at least 50 million people in the United States.

Cumulative strains of bacteria that you harbor in your mouth, throat and down your esophagus can make your breath smell extremely unpleasant. And these bacteria can develop from the amino acids in your mouth… or they could be the result of an infection, periodontal disease or cancer of the mouth, esophagus or lungs.

How can you tell if you have bad breath? Lick the back of your hand and wait five seconds to smell it. If it smells bad, then your breath smells bad, too.

One way to get rid of your bad breath is to eat less refined sugar. The more refined sugar you eat the more smelly organisms such as yeast and unnatural bacteria you will have inside your body. Refined sugar feeds these strains, but whole and living raw foods don’t. And for long-term therapy, you might consider a liquid cleanse as well as eating nutrient-rich, living foods such as fruits and vegetables. You’ll be sweetly surprised at the improvement in not only your breath, but your body odor, as well.

How important is your breath when it comes to your love life? While men think appearance is the most important aspect in a mate, smells are a close second. And for women, smells rank the highest in terms of attraction. This is a call to action because a more satisfying love life could be just a sweet smell away.