Research released this month, as part of Fresh Breath Fortnight, suggests that as many as 98 per cent of the population suffer from bad breath at some point in their lives, with 55- 65 per cent of the population suffering chronically from the condition. More men in the UK have bad breath, but more women come forward for treatment.According to Dr Stemmer, bad breath, or halitosis is usually caused by the presence of excess bacteria in the mouth that are not adequately removed from the mouth by regular oral hygiene – such as brushing, flossing and using mouthwash.”Many people think halitosis comes from the stomach,” he says, “but this is very rare unless there is a clinical problem. The bacteria can be trapped in any part of the mouth: in the cheeks, pallet, or tongue. Bad breath is often caused by an oral cavity and linked to gum disease.”It’s made worse by trapped food caught between poorly-fitted fillings or crowns.In Sandra’s case her bad breath was made worse by her milk allergy. The milk increases catarrh and feeds bacteria.”Dr Stemmer believes that people underestimate the problems associated with bad breath He said: “In some cases the condition can be very serious.

There have been reports of people who have committed suicide after suffering from bad breath. We had one man in his twenties who hit the bottle and tried to commit suicide because of his bad breath. His mother brought him down to the Fresh Breath Centre and after a few sessions he was able to put his life back together.”Treatment for halitosis will differ from person to person and could involve a course of antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria. In most cases patients will be advised to brush and floss regularly and use an alcohol-free mouth wash.”Diet is very important and should be varied,” Dr Stemmer says “You need to drink lots of water and eat regularly. People who diet and fast a lot, like models, are more prone to bad breath because they don’t have an adequate saliva flow.

Over exercising can also cause bad breath, because your mouth becomes very dry. You need to keep drinking lots of water.”However it’s not only genuine halitosis that is causing experts concern. New research points to increasing incidence of halitophobia – where a patient imagines they have bad breath even when they don’t. It is thought that 17 per cent of the population worry a great deal about bad breath.