Getting personal 10 embarrassing questions.(CR Health)

Troublesome smells

1 What's causing my flatulence?

It might be your diet. Intestinal bacteria ferment the undigested remnants of certain carbohydrates, producing gas. Likely culprits include beans and other legumes, bran, whole grains, and many fruits and vegetables. Dairy foods also produce gas in people who have trouble digesting lactose, or milk sugar. Try cutting out suspect food for a while and see if that helps. Since swallowed air can also create gas, it might help to eat more slowly, and chew with your mouth closed. Remedies like simethicone (Gas-X, Mylanta Gas Relief) and charcoal tablets are not particularly useful. But an alpha-galactosidase enzyme supplement (Beano) can reduce gas by helping to digest the troublesome carbs. Note that flatulence accompanied by a recent change in bowel habits might indicate an underlying problem that warrants seeing a doctor.

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2 I have bad breath, though I don't smoke and I brush and floss my teeth diligently. What can I do?

Try gently cleaning your tongue, which can accumulate odor-causing bacterial plaque. You can remove plaque with a regular toothbrush, one with an attached tongue-cleaning pad, or a tongue scraper. Cinnamon-flavored gum might also help because it contains cinnamic aldehyde, an oil that seems to fight germs. If you need something stronger, mouthwash kills most odor-causing bacteria and may help for a while, though high-alcohol products may irritate the gums. Bad breath can signal a serious problem, such as a bowel disorder or periodontal disease. See your doctor and dentist if the problem persists and others notice it.

Bathroom concerns