Description

🔍 Definition & Etiology Halitosis (bad breath) refers to unpleasant mouth odor stemming from both intraoral (≈85–90%) and extraoral sources (≈10–15% 🦠 Core Mechanism – Bacterial Role Anaerobic, Gram-negative bacteria residing in plaque, periodontal pockets, and on the tongue metabolize proteins into volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs)—notably hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan—responsible for the foul odor. Interdependence of Symptoms Inflamed, bleeding gums create deeper pockets that harbor odor-producing bacteria. The tongue backside, rich in papillae, traps debris and biofilm—~80–90% of oral malodor originates here