The relationship between mouth bacteria, bad breath, and gum disease
Because bad breath affects interaction with others, it can cause personal and social problems. Unfortunately it is very common in both men and women and people in all age groups. In about 80 to 90 percent of cases the cause of bad breath originates in the mouth. 5 to 9 percent of bad breath originates from outside the mouth ( mostly from the stomach or lungs).
The mouth is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria because it is warm ( 34 to 37 degrees celsius) and very humid. There are over 500 species of bacteria in a person’s mouth and they can produce VSC’s (volatile sulfur compounds) that cause bad breath. The common compounds that cause bad breath are hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan
The oral bacteria species most related to bad breath are:
Actinomyces spp.
Bacteroides spp.
Dialister spp.
Eubacterium spp.
Fusobacterium spp.
Leptotrichia spp.
Peptostreptococcus spp.
Porphyromonas spp.
Prevotella spp.
Selenomonas spp.,
Solobacterium spp.,
Veillonella spp.
Tannerella forsythia
The most active producers of hydrogen sulfide are Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria such as Prophyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia, which are also associated with with deep gum pockets, bone loss, and gum disease.
Fungi (yeast) such as Candida albicans can also increase Volatile sulfur levels and cause bad breath.
Patients with periodontal pockets greater than 5 mm in depth had a 30% increase in volatile sulfur compounds (VSC’s), and more severe cases of gum disease were associated with an increase in bad breath.
Water-flossing and toothbrushing performed together can lower bad mouth odour more quickly compared toothbrushing alone.
The bacteria that cause both bad breath and gum disease mainly live on the back top part of the tongue, so tongue cleaning can help with both conditions.
If you have a healthy mouth and you still have bad mouth breath, other causes that can be investigated are gastrointestinal disease, respiratory system disease, liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and several other whole body metabolic conditions.
For more details see
Yeon-Hee, Hong Ji-You. Oral microbiome as a co-mediator of halitosis and periodontitis: a narrative review . Frontiers in Oral Health . VOLUME 4, 2023
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