bad breath research
Scientists have found strong evidence of a link between the bacterium Solobacterium moorei and bad breath. This organism is an anaerobic bacillus that is rarely found in medicine, but has recently been isolated from stool, dental abscesses, and the mouths of people who suffer from bad breath. In laboratory tests, scientists have confirmed that the bacteria produce hydrogen sulfide, a gas that represents the characteristic smell of rotten eggs.
Bacteria associated with halitosis did not are nothing new: we've known for a number of years that anaerobic bacteria that live in the mouth emit volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) responsible for the bad breath. These bacteria grow in the absence of oxygen and metabolize proteins supplied by the cells, food particles, and secretions. In the decomposition proteins, organisms emit VSC as a byproduct. The relationship between Solobacterium moorei and bad breath is explained in the same way. Researchers have identified the suspected species of anaerobic bacteria, one by one, and found that many of them to be present in almost every tongue, but apparently flourishes in greater numbers where the smell is a problem. It has never been clear why the various species do better in some mouths than others.
The link between Solobacterium moorei and bad breath appears to be much stronger than that found in other species. In studies where the researchers looked for the organism in the mouths of volunteers, found that in almost all patients with oral malodor, and almost none of those without the condition. In one study, subjects who had no oral malodor, but had the bacteria, had other oral problems, such as periodontitis (gum inflammation). Of all the bacteria associated with halitosis, to date, this new species appears the most likely to respond and clues for a cure.
If research shows a causal relationship between Solobacterium moorei and bad breath, we can be able to devise a way to get rid of a health problem that has resisted all attempts to deal with him for decades. Tests of antibiotics against the organism has proven to be sensitive to many of the drugs already available to us. If doctors can determine how best to deliver the drug to regions of the mouth anaerobes were live, oral malodor would be treated like any other infection. We may not have the whole story yet there may be other bacteria associated with halitosis that scientists have yet to find, but we are one step closer to a true cure for bad breath.
Source for this article: VI Haraszthy, D. Gerber, B. Clark et al. "Characterization and prevalence of oral Solobacterium moorei associated with halitosis." Journal of Breath Research: March 2008.
R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to Solobacterium moorei and Bad Breath at Bad Breath Remedies, a blog dedicated to the treatment of bad breath.
