If you’ve ever wondered what the medical name for bad breath is, the answer is halitosis.
Halitosis refers specifically to chronic or persistent bad breath. Something more than just what you get after garlic bread or skipping a brushing. It’s a clinical term used by dentists and healthcare professionals when bad breath becomes a recurring issue.
The word itself comes from Latin: halitus meaning “breath” and -osis indicating “a condition”. So when someone says “halitosis”, they’re not being fancy, they’re being accurate.
Whether you’re researching for health reasons or just curious about the term, now you know: the medical name for bad breath is halitosis.