Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath and refers to unpleasant odors emanating from the mouth and sometimes even the nasal passages. There is a lot of embarrassment attached to halitosis or bad breath and though it is not a serious medical condition, it can lead to problems in interacting with others. Bad breath could shatter a person?s self-confidence and self-esteem and lead to situations of social isolation and even depression. Bad breath could even be responsible for poor professional and personal relations and therefore requires treatment at the earliest.

There are also a lot of false notions about what causes bad breath. It is not as simple as attributing halitosis to poor dental hygiene. In many cases, bad breath could be a result of several factors including an underlying illness or medical condition. Nearly a quarter of adults suffer from bad breath at some point of time and dentists list halitosis as the third most popular reason for dental visits, the first two being tooth decay and bleeding gums.