This may seem like a no-brainer. You assume that if you brush your teeth you can avoid bad breath. But good oral hygiene habits go beyond just brushing. It is important to brush at least twice a day to remove food particles and plaque that feed the bacteria in your mouth, which is usually the source of bad breath. You should also floss once a day to remove food and plaque from the spaces between your teeth as well where bacteria like to hide. Mouthwash will freshen your breath by killing excess bacteria in your mouth, especially those that live in hard to reach places.