Bad breath (halitosis) can be an unpleasant and embarrassing condition. Many of us may not realize that we have bad breath, but everyone has it from time to time, especially in the morning. There are various reasons such as poor hygiene, certain foods, gum disease, cavities, dry mouth, dieting, poor fitted dental appliances, use of tobacco products, and certain medications and illnesses. However, in healthy people, the major reason is due to microbial deposits on the tongue, especially the back of the tongue. Some studies have shown that simply brushing the tongue reduced bad breath by as much as 70 percent. To prevent bad breath one should practice good oral hygiene, see dentist regularly, stop smoking or chewing tobacco, drink water frequently and use mouth wash/rinses. In most cases, your dentist can treat the cause of bad breath.