Bad breath from coffee can ruin romantic moments

Coffee is a popular beverage in the U.S., which means that coffee-related halitosis is a problem for numerous adults. Americans drink more than 146 billion cups of the stuff every year, according to the Coffee Statistics Report. This flood of java puts millions of mouths at risk for bad breath.

Oral odor caused by coffee is so distinctive that it has its own handle, "coffee breath," and many people whose employer has a coffee machine are very familiar with the scent. At work, coffee breath can be especially prevalent, since many employees wake up with at least one cup of joe but do not brush their teeth until after dinner.

Coffee breath can be brought home after work, putting intimate moments at risk. The Toronto Sun reports that data collected by Harlequin Surveys indicates that 49 percent of men and 62 percent of women think bad breath is the biggest turn-off out there.

Since giving up coffee may be out of the question for many people, it is up to one's specialty breath freshening products to keep the mouth smelling sweet. Individuals who use odor-neutralizing rinses and oral care probiotics may find their breath staying fresher longer.