What is bad breath? What causes it? Why do I have it?
Almost all cases of bad breath & taste disorders involve a group of anaerobic sulfur producing bacteria that live below the surface of the tongue, in the t hroat, and often in the tonsils (if present). They react to changes in their environment by producing odorous and lousy t asting Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSC’s), such as hydrogen sulfide (the rotten egg smell), methyl mercaptan (similar to the odor of old socks), and several other chemicals, such as Cadaverine and Putrescine. Volatile is taken to mean Vaporous and Effervescent, two adjectives which accurately describe their ability to offend other people instantly.These bacteria are supposed to be there , because they assist humans in digestion by breaking down proteins found in specific foods, mucus or phlegm, blood, and in diseased or broken-down oral tissue. Under certain conditions, these bacteria start to break down proteins at a very high rate. Proteins are made up of Amino Acids.
