Also known as halitosis, bad breath is a condition that affects tens of millions of Americans. Caused by millions of gas-forming bacteria that build in the mouth, most cases of bad breath can be eliminated with toothpaste, mouthwash or tongue scrapers--but it's not always that simple.

In extreme cases, odor-causing bacteria forms in clumps and becomes jammed in tiny tonsil folds in the back of the throat, and no amount of brushing or flossing will dislodge it.

Until now, the prescription for eradicating the odorous bacteria has been simple: remove the tonsils. But tonsil removal surgery is a major surgical procedure that often requires a hospital stay. And with the price tag reaching upwards of $10,000, it's not the most feasible option for most cash-strapped Americans.

Instead, Dr. Krespi has devised a simpler, more cost-effective approach: use a tiny laser beam to zap away the clumps. The outpatient procedure lasts only 20 minutes, leaving the patient with only a mild sore throat. Most patients can return to work the same day--usually with cleaner, fresher breath.

To date, over 500 patients have had the procedure.

According to an article in the New York Post, the procedure will cost roughly $2,000 without insurance, but as lasers have been used for treating tonsils for over a decade, it's covered by most dental insurance plans.

Talk about a breath of fresh air.