Does your breath smell? Just ask your phone

Do you ever fear that you have bad breath at a party or get together, but no one will give you the heads up to pop a breath mint? Fear no more! Soon your iPhone may be that best friend that lets you know if your halitosis is stinking up the party. Yes - you read that right - your phone. A San Francisco start-up, Adamant Technologies, is currently working on technology that gives your iPhone human powers of smell and taste.

Adamant has been working to create a computer chip that works with many tiny sensors that digitalize the sense of smell and taste, Sam Khamis, founder and CEO of the company, explained. This technology is more than just a "scratch-and-sniff" type of thing, because it tracks the chemicals that are put into the air - like those emitted with bad breath. However, the process is a little more tricky than it seems because unlike a human, computers cannot calculate a large number of chemicals released.

To create a sense of smell similar to a human's, Adamant has created an incredibly sophisticated technology to pick up various chemicals in the air and identify them accurately. According to Khamis, the average human nose has roughly 400 sensors, but the technology has about 2,000 sensors - similar to the amount of a dog's nose.

"Halitosis, or bad breath tracking, is something we're really interested in," Khamis told Business Insider.

Excited about this new prospect for your phone? Just wait: Adamant has gone even further than simply tracking these oral health care issues. The computer sensor can actually determine what is causing bad breath!

Adamant is working with legendary venture capitalist, Vinod Khosla, to begin mass production of the chips in Austin, Texas. The company believes that the chips won't be available for another year or two, and it will be used in conjunction with a device that plugs into an iPhone and can be used with other similar apps. Adamant raised about $2.5 million from Khosla over the summer and plans to raise more over the next year to create the product.

Giving computers the ability to have human senses is a growing trend, and IBM predicts that by 2018 computers will be able to replicate all five senses. The current technology from Adamant is said to run consumers about $100; however, it's likely that the price will decrease once the technology becomes more readily available.

Now that you know that you have bad breath, and what is causing it, it's time to get rid of it. This technology isn't smart enough to let you know the best solution to rid your mouth of bacteria that is causing the stench, but chewing on natural gum or mints is a great option. However, this is a temporary solution when you're out and about. If you're a person who loves to chew on gum, it's important to make sure that it is sugar free. While the minty taste may have you thinking that your breath is being freshened, the sugar is just feeding the bacteria that is causing the bad breath in the first place.

If you're suffering from bad breath on a regular basis, it's best to find an alcohol free mouthwash and natural toothpaste to rinse away odor causing bacteria. These solutions will get to the bottom of your bad breath, so you don't have to worry about asking your phone if you're in the clear. Maintaining a regular regimen of brushing, flossing and rinsing is very important as well. Individuals who find they have bad breath frequently should stay away from foods and drinks that tend to dry the mouth out, because that creates bad breath by trapping the bacteria in the mouth.