Halitosis, or bad breathe, is an incredibly embarrassing condition. Unfortunately, it is estimated that a huge 30% of the population suffer from the condition.
The majority of halitosis is caused by the microbial degradation of oral organic substrates, which creates ‘smelly’ volatile sulphur-containing compounds. These microorganisms are predominately found in periodontal pockets or on the surface of the tongue. The condition can be exaggerated in the morning because a reduction in saliva flow during the night allows microorganisms more opportunity to feast on stagnated food residues (Figure 1) that have not been washed away from the oral cavity.
Figure 1.Human tongue surface with bacteria
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