Emirati commuters hate bad breath

Riding to work, whether in a car or on public transit, can be made that much worse when a fellow commuter has bad breath. In the United Arab Emirates, where a Regus poll finds that the average commute is 27 minutes long, halitosis is one of the major stress factors reported by drivers and train and bus passengers, according to TradeArabia News Service.

While bad driving topped the poll's list of stresses, bad breath wasn't far behind, along with road rage, high-volume cellphone conversations, body odor and smelly food.

"The insidious power of bad smells to get the day off to a bad start cannot be underestimated," Regus CEO Mark Dixon told the news organization.

The problem with halitosis, body odor and food aromas is that the three factors can be interrelated. Savory or spicy foods, such as those commonly eaten in the Middle East, can stink up a train car all on their own. However, they can also leave a foul smell in the mouth and contribute to pungent body odor.

Rather than put fellow commuters through an unpleasant or stressful olfactory experience, individuals with bad breath may consider rinsing their tongue and palate with a specialty breath freshening mouth wash.