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With bad breath many people feel:
-Inadequate in social situations at work, at parties on dates. 
-Salesmen have not felt confident and therefore less successful making a sale. 
-Managers of all sorts not effective in their jobs delegating because at meetings everyone is focusing on the managers breath and not on the discussion. 

CAUSES OF BAD BREATH: 
The majority of bad breath problems begin in the mouth. Odors coming from the stomach are almost never the cause of chronic bad breath. It is estimated that nearly 60 million people suffer from chronic halitosis in the United States. It is also estimated that nearly ten billion dollars a year are spent to treat the condition; most of it wasted. 

Bad Breath or Halitosis is caused by an imbalance of the two types of bacteria that live in our mouth. 

We are born with two types of bacteria that live within our body. There are those that live with oxygen (aerobes), and those that live without oxygen (anaerobes). The anaerobic bacteria are an opportunistic type and therefore should we upset the natural balance of our mouths, they tend to grow more quickly, eventually dominating the oral environment. These anaerobic bacteria when they flourish produce copious amounts of  sulfur compounds as a waste material. These Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VLCs) are laid down in the mouth, principally on the back third of the tongue and in the throat.

It is these sulfur compounds that give us a bad taste in the mouth. Dead and dying bacterial cells release this sulfur compound which gives the breath an unpleasant odor.  Bacterial plaque and food debris accumulate on the back of the tongue. The tongue's surface is extremely rough and bacteria can accumulate easily in the cracks and crevices. Large amounts of sulfur compounds can be produced in this area, making it a frequent site of origin for bad breath. 

The tooth attracts bacteria containing plaque and if not cleaned regularly and thoroughly, this can result in large accumulations of bacteria which result in bad breath. People who have periodontitis often experience bad breath because of bacteria accumulating in areas that are not cleaned easily, such as deep pockets around teeth. Fortunately, treatment is very effective for people who have bad breath of mouth origin. 

Other reasons for bad breath (other than the mouth) are:
-infections, especially in the sinuses or lungs 
-diabetes mellitus (acetone smell to the breath) 
-kidney failure (can produce a fishy odor) 
-malfunction of the liver 
-disorders of metabolism (foul, fishy odor that comes and goes and may be difficult to diagnose) 
-fasting (when the body is not provided with fuel in the form of food, fat and protein will begin to be broken down; the result is bad odor from the waste products of this metabolism) 

If your bad breath continues once potential oral health problems have been treated, see your doctor to rule out any other causes. 

ORAL HEALTH TIPS AND TREATMENTS TO GET RID OF BAD BREATH: 
-Brush and Floss Your Teeth Properly 
Brushing and flossing are two of the most crucial elements for attacking bad breath. Bad breath is caused by bacteria which live on our teeth and gums. Brushing and flossing remove bacteria and the food bacteria feast on so that they can no longer create volatile sulfur compounds. Unfortunately, many people do not brush long enough to remove bacteria from their teeth. It takes 2-3 minutes to brush all tooth surfaces yet most people spend less than a minute brushing their teeth. 

Worse yet, few people take the time to floss allowing odor producing bacteria to grow rampantly in the spaces between your teeth. Brushing without flossing is like washing only 70% of your body when you bathe - the other 30% remains dirty. 

-Clean Your Tongue 
Odor causing bacteria hide deep within the crevices of the tongue. 

Ironically, many of these bacteria are anaerobic meaning they can not live in oxygen. How do these bacteria live in the mouth then ? They live safe from oxygen under a protective layer of mucous, food particles and proteins . 

Cleaning your tongue with a tongue cleaner can remove this layer and much of the bacteria which resides on your tongue. Remember to clean near the back of the tongue where most of the bacteria resides but be careful not to gag yourself. 

-Drink Plenty Water 
A dry mouth represents the ideal home for odor causing bacteria which flourish in this type of environment. Saliva normally keeps the mouth moist. Additionally, saliva helps wash away the food particles bacteria feed on and dissolves odorous volatile sulfur compounds. Actions which dry the mouth or reduce saliva flow can increase bad breath odor. 

These things that reduce saliva or cause dry mouth include: 
-The use of prescription medications including antihistamines and decongestants 
-Excessive talking 
-Exercising 
-Dieting 
-Drinking alcohol or using mouthwashes containing a high amount of alcohol 
-Smoking 
By drinking water we stimulate saliva flow, wash away left-over food particles, and moisten the mouth making it less hospitable to odor causing bacteria. 

-Use Chlorine Dioxide Mouthwashes 
Mouthwashes containing chlorine dioxide are the latest advance against bad breath. Conventional mouthwashes at best only temporarily mask bad breath odor. At worst, conventional mouthwashes can make the situation worse by drying out the mouth making it more hospitable to odor producing bacteria. 

-Check for Signs of Gingivitis and Other Dental Problems 
Get a Dental Check-Up at Least Once a Year.  Your dentist can diagnose other problems which cause bad breath including abscesses, periodontal disease, and impacted teeth.
 

Treatment begins with a complete oral examination and health history, you may have an "odor-meter" test done. This test can accurately measure the volatile sulfur gases and the extent of a halitosis problem. 
Periodontal disease and /or cavities should be treated and repaired. 
 

Bad breath sufferers should feel encouraged to seek treatment from their dentist because of the high success rate in managing the problem.