Many of these people are unaware of their offending breath until somebody has the courage to tell them. But once they are aware that they have the problem, they will usually do anything to avoid the embarrassment that it causes. All one has to do is look at the millions of dollars a year spent on various mouthwashes, flavoring agents, mints and other masking substances, to see that halitosis is a serious social problem.
Studies show that disorders of the oral cavity are responsible for most instances of bad breath.
But it is clear when you look at the numbers, companies producing mints and sprays are the ones' carrying out bad breath treatment and not the dentist. The Causes of Bad Breath Bad breath is a condition that has many different causes and even though it is most often caused by oral problems, bad breath can also be a symptom of a serious disease. One of the best examples of this is diabetes. While an odor is not detectable in well- controlled patients, an acetone sweet fruity odor can often be detected in the uncontrolled patient. This odor can even be a sign of an impending coma.