What Is Halitosis? Causes, Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Why It Affects Millions

Halitosis or oral malodor has been a serious problem for thousands of years. Ancient Hebrew texts over two thousand years old indicate that oral malodor in one partner was considered sufficient legal ground for terminating marriages! Writings from early Roman, Greek, Christian, and Islamic societies also have similar references. Nevertheless, scientific study of halitosis began only in the 1940s-1950s.