Bad breath is a very common problem. The medical name for bad breath is halitosis. Other people generally notice bad breath before the individual does. It may be difficult to tell someone they have bad breath without causing them embarrassment, and many people worry about bad breath even if they do not have it.
Most of us have bad breath from time to time, particularly after eating strongly flavored food such as garlic. Smoking and drinking a lot of alcohol can also cause your breath to smell unpleasant. Bad breath can usually be prevented by good dental hygiene.