It is likely that the majority of adults suffer from bad breath at least occasionally. Since bad breath usually comes from the mouth itself, the dentist should be the first professional whom individuals turn for help. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness that bad breath is a problem that the dental profession should recognize and address. Oral malodour is a phenomenon that is often oversimplified by the commercial dental industry, misunderstood by the general society, and not completely understood by the scientific community.
Bad breath has been recorded in the literature for thousands of years. The prophet Mohammed is said to have thrown a congregant from the mosque for having the smell of garlic on his breath. Malodour has been documented in the Bible, along with attempted remedies for treating it. The aetiologies of oral malodour are quite diverse. There are some patients whose oral malodour stems from psychological problems. These problems manifest either as a syndrome or simply a transitory perception of malodour. Aside from the pure psychological component, there is also socio-economic component that affects the perceived need for fresh breath and the heightened awareness of one’s breath. There are many devices available to measure volatile Sulphur compounds (VSCs). Despite these devices, oral judges still are employed for the assessment of oral odour.
There exist within the mouth many reservoirs (dorsum of the tongue, periodontal pockets, denture surfaces etc.) for bacteria. These are the areas where hygiene can be applied in an attempt to lessen the amounts of gases released by these bacteria.
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