The bacterial metabolic processes that produce volatile sulfur compounds in the oral cavity
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Citation
Abstract
Volatile sulfur compounds are the primary cause of bad breath. They are a byproduct of bacterial metabolism and can be difficult to eliminate because they generally originate on the dorsum of the tongue, an area often missed during oral hygiene practices.
Chronic bad breath, or halitosis, can be a cause of extreme anxiety. Indeed, halitosis has been proven to affect people across the globe. However, doctors and dentists are generally unaware of the causes of this disease.
While poor oral hygiene is the most obvious cause of halitosis, many sufferers in fact have scrupulous oral hygiene practices. Little is known about the development of the disease; researchers have instead focused on which mouth rinses are the most effective and which bacteria are the most likely culprits.