Hi Nairalanders,
I've been having a particular problem which is termed as Halitophobia I.e fear of bad breath,this problem started last year around May,it all started when I sniffed my breath and I perceived something bad,ever since then I've been self-conscious about my breath.
Since then i started cleaning my mouth 3-4 times a day,using salt,different types of toothpaste,I even went to the extent of asking google on "HOW TO CURE BAD BREATH " permanently and I saw a supposed solution called "FOREVER BRIGHT TOOTH GEL" on google,it urged me to buy because I saw different testimonies of people on how the tooth gel cured their Bad breath permanently,I bought the tooth gel even though it cost N10000,believe me when I said it cost that much.
After buying the tooth gel I was happy and same time sad,SAD because of the sum of money I spent on it,because I was supposed to use that money on something very important and useful and HAPPY because I thought the solution to my problem has finally ended,after the first day of using it, it felt good in my mouth and freshen,I was quite Happy because I thought if i use it for up to 2 weeks the BB will be gone for ever and ever,unlucky I was, the BB was still there,it even came worst and my life became more depressing and full of anxiety,i even considered suicide but never attempted it though, it was just thought that linger through my head each time I cry about my BB,trust me I do cry a lot about it.
I finally wanted to take the BB matter serious,I made it known to my mother and sister but to my suprise and amazement they say they don't smell anything I was like wtf?..I even cupped my hand and pour out some air and i smelled something but my sis and mom still say they don't smell anything and this are same people that rub their noses,turn their head,sneeze,cough,e.t.c when I'm around even when my mouth is close, I just say to myself that they are just polite and don't want to make me feel bad.
I saved some money and immediately went to the dentist on getting there,the dentist told me to open my mouth,when I did he said my mouth is clean and he suggested I should just do Scaling and Polishing that it will clean my mouth for me,after doing that he said the problem will be solved,that I should just chew gum and drink plenty water,and he said I should sniff on him,I did that and he said my breath is fine,after getting home I started drinking plenty of water and bought sugar free gum that contains xytitol,after a week of doing that I still see people behaviors towards me (like rubbing of noses,cough and sneeze)even from afar people Still rub their nose and turn their head when I face them, even through the transparent window people still behave negatively.
I saw some research on google and saw people with same problem like me and I saw a mental disorder called OLFACTORY REFERENCE SYNDROME (ORS)
Meaning/symptoms
Olfactory reference syndrome (ORS) is an underrecognized condition that has similarities to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). People with ORS think they smell bad, but in reality they don't. There's a profound mismatch between their own perception and the perception of other people.
People with ORS may worry, for example, that they have bad breath or bad-smelling armpits, or that they emit a foul odor from their genitals, anus (often flatulence), feet, skin, or other body area. People with ORS may worry about emitting a bad body odor from any part of their body; the types of odors and body areas listed here are just some examples. The odor concerns cause significant emotional distress or interfere with the person's day-to-day functioning.

What Are Some Other Symptoms of ORS?
People with ORS perform repetitive behaviors (also called "rituals" or "compulsions" in response to the distress that their body odor preoccupations cause. Common excessive behaviors (and lifetime rates) include:
1.Smelling one's self: 80%
2.Seeking reassurance about body odor (for example, "Do I have bad breath?": 45%
3.Dieting/unusual food intake (for example, to decrease perceived flatulence): 45%
4.Brushing teeth (to minimize perceived bad breath): 40%Camouflaging the perceived odor - for example, by using lots of perfume or fragrance, gum, deodorant, mints, mouthwash, or toothpaste
Embarrassment and shame
A belief that other people take special notice of the person in a negative way because of how they smell (for example, talk about them or move away from them)
Social anxiety and social avoidance
Anxiety and depressed mood
I emit all those above symptoms.
Please do you think I suffer from ORS?
cause I just can't be imagining my BB when I really do perceive something
Please those that don't have a problem with BB should please:
1.Lick their lips very well rub your wrist on the licked lips take a sniff if it does smell or not please be sincere
(cause when I fo this I smell foul odor)
2.Tell me how you behave when you perceive a BB,do you rub nose?,do rub cough?,do you sneeze?,do you turn your head?,or any way you behave pls highlight
3.do you people with fresh breath somehow have a coating at the back of your tongue?I.e white substance at the back of your tongue?
4.take a sniff of your mouth do you smell something? and still talk freely to people?

5.take a spoon and and touch the back of your tongue,let it dry,did you perceive foul odor?

please don't just skip the reading and jump straight to comment..I've been on this forum for quite a while and I see people bring their problems here and you somehow help them,pls mine should not be an exception..those with similar problems should pls indicate so that together we can fight this problem.
Thanks to y'all!

cc:
lalasticlala

leak the back of your plam with your tongue and then smell it your self. I think that way of self testing is better than trying to smell your breath