It's not just the oldest and wisest amongst us who exhale in a less-than-desirable fashion. A research study published in the Indian Journal of Dental Sciences notes that oral malodour, also known as bad breath or halitosis, is a common complaint among the general population. Its prevalence has been reported to be as high as 50%. So we'll begin by addressing the causes that tend to affect the masses first because that may provide the easiest and fastest solution for you.
Do you have enough will power to give up certain foods like garlic, onions, and certain spices? Are you willing to cut down on or completely give up drinking alcohol? Or to stop chewing tobacco? These are some of the most common offenders of bad breath (and, of course, alcohol and tobacco can have adverse effects on your health more generally). The only real solution to these causes is avoiding them.
Whatever you decide, giving abstinence a try (at least temporarily) will help you determine what's at fault. The National Health Portal of India points out that non-oral reasons such as sinus (upper respiratory tract infections), diabetes (diabetic ketoacidosis), lung and kidney diseases (end stage renal failure), gastrointestinal disease such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), menstruation (menstrual breath) accounts for 9% of halitosis cases. While in 1% of patients, the source of halitosis is diets or drugs. Your dental professional is the person best suited to diagnose any potential health or hygiene issues.