What is bad breath?

What is Bad Breath?

Whether it is called halitosis or bad breath, it is an unpleasant condition that causes embarrassment for half the population at one time or another. Bad breath can significantly interference with enjoyment of everyday life, affecting career advancement as well as family and social relationships.

The primary source of bad breath is attributed to ongoing chemical and biological reactions that occur in the mouth, and resulting in the release of noxious gases that are exhaled when we breathe. The odors associated with bad breath can cause severe embarrassment for those who suffer from it or are exposed to it. Anaerobic bacteria germs on the tongue release three specific foul-smelling volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) into the mouth. These three foul-smelling compounds (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide) are gaseous, and exhaled when we breath. Most toothpastes and mouthwashes, even those promoting their germ-killing effectiveness, simply mask the smell of the gases for a few minutes, and do little to remove the source of bad breath---the aerobic bacteria germs that grow and multiply on the tongue.

Unfortunately, bad breath is not directly detectable by the sufferer, who only becomes aware of the condition by the revealing actions of others. Fortunately, Target Labs has a convenient solution that quickly and effectively removes bad breath at its source, and restores fresh, clean breath.

Bad Breath: A Clinical Definition

Bad breath, clinically called halitosis or oral malodor, is an undesirable condition that affects over half the population. It has been estimated that 90% of the population exhibits oral malodor upon arising (e.g. "morning mouth") which persists throughout the day in about 20% of adults. It is generally believed that the cause of this condition is due to the presence of anaerobic bacteria, especially gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, in the mouth. These bacteria will generate volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), which are known to cause breath malodor.

It is recognized that breath malodor can be caused by three chemical compounds. Specifically, these compounds are hydrogen sulfide (H--S--H), methyl mercaptan (CH.sub.3 --S--H) and dimethyl sulfide (CH.sub.2 --S--CH.sub.3). These compounds result from the degradation of epithelial cells and bacteria in the oral cavity. Specifically, the polypeptide chains of the epithelial cell walls are composed of a series of amino acids including cysteine and methionine, which contain sulfur side chains. The death of microorganisms or epithelial cells results in degradation of the polypeptide chains into their amino acid components, especially cysteine and methionine. Cysteine and methionine are precursors to the formation of VSC.

It is also recognized that oral malodor not only comes from the posterior dorsal (top and back) surface of the tongue. A person suffering from oral malodor has an increased number of disintegrated epithelial cells on the tongue, and a large number of these dead epithelial cells remain in the oral cavity and will degrade into malodorous compounds.