Research has shown that 80-90% of the cases of bad breath originate in the mouth.  The intensity of bad breath may depend upon the time of the day. The odor may be more intense after having eaten foods like garlic, onions, meat, fish and cheese.  Obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption are also causes of bad breath. The odor may also be more during the morning hours, as the exposure of the mouth, to oxygen, is limited, during the night, and therefore is inactive.  Studies have shown that 25% of people in USA suffer from chronic bad breath. This leads to a bad social, professional, and personal life, thus leading to low self-esteem and increased stress.  

DIAGNOSIS

The origins of bad breath lie in the mouth, tongue, periodontal disease, nose, tonsils, stomach and systemic diseases like lower respiratory tract infections, etc.  Scientists admit that it would be difficult for a person having bad breath to know about it unless and until someone else tells the person. The simplest and most effective way to diagnose bad breath is to ask a trusted adult family member or close friend. The confidant can further determine the origin and treatment for the condition. The best way would be to scrape the posterior back of the tongue, lightly with a plastic disposable spoon and to smell the drying residue. 

However, there are home tests available, which use a chemical reaction to test the presence of polyamines and sulphur compounds on tongue swabs, but their effectiveness is suspect. Moreover, as breath odor changes in intensity throughout the day depending upon many factors, multiple testing may be necessary.  Also available are professional methods to diagnose bad breath, which are adopted, only if the home methods fail. Hundreds of clinics and dispensaries now claim to detect and subsequently cure the condition. These clinics use equipments like halimeter, gas chromatograph.