Halitosis is an unpleasant breath odor that emanates from the mouth. Bad breath affects not only your self-confidence but also your relationships. Here, we will discuss the different causes of bad breath and introduce some simple yet effective ways to help you reduce or remove unpleasant odors and get you back to smelling fresh.
According to the American Dental Association, about 50 percent of American adults have bad breath at some point. The Academy of General Dentistry says that more than 80 million people suffer from chronic bad breath.
10-Second Bad Breath Self-Test
First, let us assess whether we have bad breath. There are two simple ways to perform a self-test:
Method 1: Smell Your Breath
You can cover your mouth and nose with your hands, then exhale through your mouth, sniffing to see if it smells bad. If there is a peculiar odor that doesn’t smell like normal bad breath, you should consult a doctor.
Method 2: Smell Your Saliva
Lick your wrist with the middle of your tongue and smell it after about 10 seconds. If it smells unpleasant, you may have bad breath.
Causes of Bad Breath
There are many reasons for bad breath. In general, it is mainly caused by problems inside the mouth, while it is only sometimes due to problems outside the mouth.
Naiwen Hu
Naiwen Hu is a Traditional Chinese Medicine physician at Shanghai Tong Te Tang in Taipei and a former Stanford Research Institute scientist. Hu has treated more than 140,000 patients, taught at an American university, and hosts a popular YouTube health program with 900,000 subscribers, as well as international wellness roadshows.
