What is Halitosis

Acute bad breath is a very common problem caused by such things as oral dryness, stress, hunger, eating certain foods such as garlic and onions, smoking, and poor oral care.

Morning breath is a typical example of transient bad breath. However chronic bad breath is a far more serious condition affecting one quarter of the population in different capacities, and usually has a bad impact on the individual’s capacity to maintain good personal and business relationship, leading to catastrophe.

Halitosis is caused by the presence of a huge colony of oral bacteria and invariably requires persistent treatment. Presently, persistent halitosis is not clearly understood or even identified as a curable condition by most medical experts, so a proper and effective treatment is almost impossible to find.


Most of the treatments available are mostly asymptotic and are limited to controlling bad breath by mouth and breath fresheners. Though many breath clinics have sprouted like mushroom, all over the world, many of them are not really successful. However, a very small number of clinics use established methods of microbiological examination to determine the varieties of odor-causing bacteria.

The specific bacteria are then controlled by patient specific treatments, thus giving patients relief from the ordeal.


Though the reasons for bad breath odor are not completely understood, most unpleasant odors are known to occur due to food debris trapped in the mouth. It is really amazing to find as many as 400 different types of bacteria in an average mouth!

Trouble can occur when several dozen of these bacteria are allowed to flourish in large proportions or are genetically mutated to reproduce in a large number. Many species of these bacteria are usually found on the back of the tongue, where they find protection and security from normal mouth activity. The rough edges of our tongue usually harbor millions of these harmful bacteria, which create toxins by digesting debris, dead cells, and other residues. These toxins are harmful in creating a bad odor in the breath.

The anaerobic respiration of these bacteria will accrue residual compounds containing sulfides and ammonia. These bad compounds often mix with the breath to form an aerosol of nausea and bad odor.

Other causes of chronic bad breath may be periodontitis (gum disease), diabetes, kidney failure, sinusitis, tonsilloliths, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), and a wide variety of prescription drugs.