Why do we sometimes have bad breath? Some bacteria are responsible for bad breath in our mouth. How do they co-exist in our mouth?
Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth may be a warning sign of gum (periodontal) disease. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. Bacteria cause the formation of toxins to form, which irritate the gums. If gum disease continues untreated, it can damage the gums and jawbone.
Other dental causes of bad breath include poorly fitting dental appliances, yeast infections of the mouth, and dental cavities.
The medical condition dry mouth (also called xerostomia) also can cause bad breath. Saliva is necessary to moisten the mouth, neutralize acids produced by plaque, and wash away dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. If not removed, these cells decompose and can cause bad breath. Dry mouth may be a side effect of various medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous breathing through the mouth.
Many other diseases and illnesses may cause bad breath. Here are some to be aware of: respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, postnasal drip, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, and liver or kidney problems.
Dentists refer to the sulfur byproducts excreted as waste by oral bacteria as "volatile sulfur compounds" (VSC's). And it's their presence in our breath that we detect as "bad" breath. Most of the compounds that cause bad breath are the byproducts of anaerobic bacteria (more specifically Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria). Gram neg anaerobic bacteria belonging to the genus Porphyromonas, Fusobacterium, Prevotella, Actinobacillus and Treponema are usually responsible for the production of VSC's.
The microflora of a healthy mouth usually contains species from the following genus, 85 % of the flora belong to Streptococcus, Veillonella, Gram positive Diptheroids and Gram negative anaerobic rods. Neissaeria constituents 5-7% of the microflora, Lactobacillus 2%, Staphylococci & Micrococci 1%, Filamentous bacteria 2%, and the remaining flora belonging to other bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses.
The paper listed below sequences the salivary microbiota of healthy subjects (in addition to IBD patients). The paper indicates that Streptococcus, Prevotella and Rothia are the most abudnant genera.
Paper: Dysbiosis of salivary microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease and its association with oral immunological biomarkers
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