Cacostomia

/ˌkækoʊˈstoʊmiə/ noun

Definition

A condition characterized by an unpleasant or foul-smelling breath or mouth odor.

Etymology

From Greek 'kakos' (bad) + 'stoma' (mouth). Like many medical terms using the 'caco-' prefix, this was formed to describe a specific symptom affecting oral health.

Kelly Says

Cacostomia can be caused by poor dental hygiene, gum disease, or underlying health issues, and it was historically one of the more socially embarrassing conditions that people actually had medical terms for.

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