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2nd. Edition

Present and Future

Bad breath is a foul odor detected on the breath exiting from the mouth, nose or both. In most cases, bad breath derives from the oral cavity itself and is often amenable to treatment (Tonzetich, 1977). Proper oral care, including oral hygiene (including deep tongue brushing) and the optional use of efficacious mouthrinsing usually bring about dramatic reductions in oral malodor (Scully et al., 1994). In some cases, bad breath presents an important clue that a medical problem exists.
The major problem remains one of diagnosis, both in clinical research and individual counseling. How can bad breath best be measured and detected? Is the odor real or imagined? What are the sites (whether in the mouth or elsewhere) or diseases responsible for the presenting odor? How can one know whether one has bad breath at any given time point in time?

Future research on bad breath should cross over with the field of medical breath testing, which has thus far developed in an independent fashion. A recent review on the subject of medical breath tests completely ignored the contribution of the oral cavity (Philips, 1982). Although medical breath testing often involves detection of nonodorous gases (e.g., carbon monoxide, hydrogen), the sampling and instrumental techniques employed are often analogous.
Finally, it should be kept in mind that bad breath shares kinship with other types of body odors. Body odors are usually of microbial origin and may be indicative of infection. They cause discomfort to many people and support vast cosmetic industries. As with bad breath, body odors may be imagined. Interestingly, certain body-associated odors may be more similar in chemical makeup to oral malodor than is currently recognized (Moore et al., 1987).