Halitosis

Halitosis, or Bad Breath, is caused by several dozen types of anaerobic bacteria living in the mouth and tongue. These bacteria can produce high levels of foul odors. The odors are produced mainly due to the anaerobic breakdown of proteins.  Various anaerobic bacteria respirate, or release the following gaseous molecules:

• Indole – Fecal Smell

• Putrescine - Putrefying Flesh Smell

• Cadaverine – Urine Smell

• Skatole - Fecal Smell

• Hydrogen Sulfide - Swamp Smell

• Methyl Mercaptan  - Rotten Cabbage Smell

• Allyl Methyl Sulfide  - Garlic Smell

• Dimethyl Sulfide – Garden Beet Smell

In a healthy mouth, periodontally speaking, bad breath comes mainly from the back of the tongue. 

Large quantities of bacteria are often found on the posterior of the tongue, where they live and multiply undisturbed by normal activity. This part of the tongue, called the dorsum, is relatively dry and poorly cleansed, and anaerobic bacteriological communities thrive on dead cells, postnasal drip, and food particles. 

In a mouth challenged by periodontitis, the main source of bad breath comes from periodontal pockets.  The deeper the pocket, the more undisturbed anaerobic bacteria thrive.  Gaseous odors are created in periodontal pockets, and are pushed out the top of the pocket and into the mouth by crevical discharge.

Periogen® does three things to combat bad breath caused by gum disease. 

First, Periogen® kills all anaerobic bacteria it comes in contact with.  So, for example, if you have a 5mm periodontal pocket, and you are applying Periogen® with a Waterpik Ultra with a PikPocket tip, you can be assured that you are resetting the anaerobic bacteria population of that pocket to “zero”during each use.

Second, Periogen® dissolves the tartar that the anaerobic bacteria thrive in.  The less tartar there is around, the fewer the bacteria.

Third, as Periogen® dissolves tartar, periodontal pockets naturally shrink in size.  The shallower the pocket, the less the anaerobic bacteria can colonize.