It’s official — bad breath is number one. Number one when it comes to offensiveness, that is. In a poll of Canadians undertaken by Oral-B, 44% responded that bad breath was the “most offensive oral misdemeanor in the workplace.”

Telling someone that they have bad breath is not an easy thing to do, but it can be a very kind gesture towards a person who has no idea that they have a problem. Initially, expect the person to be embarrassed, and maybe even defensive. They may protest and respond that they don’t have a problem, and it is rude of you to point it out. But in the long run, telling someone that they have a problem with bad breath will help the individual who suffers from it.

There is a great debate among Islamic scholars as to the seriousness of tracts of the Koran related to bad breath and other forms of personal hygiene. That debate becomes more important during the holy season of Ramadan, when devout Muslims fast during the daylight hours, a condition that exacerbates bad breath.

Is chronic bad breath all in your head? It could very well be. There are a number of halitosis sufferers who don’t have bad breath at all. These unfortunate few suffer from a psychological malady called Psuedo-Halitosis. A lot of halitosis sufferers are blissfully unaware of their condition, while others convince themselves they have it even though there’s no subjective evidence.

How do you know when you have bad breath? Unfortunately, halitosis is a problem that most sufferers are unaware of. Because of the social stigma associated with bad breath, those who are aware of others’ bad breath often hesitate to say anything to the person suffering from it.