It is time for your next dentist visit, and already you are thinking of excuses for why you could cancel. After all, it’s just a routine cleaning, right? While bi-yearly check-ups and cleanings do wonders for your teeth and gums, they also provide an opportunity for your dentist to find serious medical problems. In face, these appointments play an instrumental role in detecting early signs of these five non-dental issues.

The nerves have definitely set in. You get out of your car, smooth out your clothes, and begin your walk into the restaurant. At the first table, you catch the eye of someone who has the same look of first-date jitters as you do and instinctively walk toward them. That little twinge of butterflies start in your stomach, until you open your mouth and immediately smell your bad breath.

According to Medical News Today, about one in four people report experiencing bad breath regularly. If you are a part of that statistic, here are four preventive measures you can take to avoid it.