Breath Odors

Book excerpt: Bad breath is a common and embarrassing problem that everyone worries about, yet most health professionals still know little about its origins, diagnosis, and treatment. Over the past fifteen years, investigators have studied how bad breath is caused, where the odors originate, and which bacteria and gases are involved. Novel in vitro systems and measurement techniques have been proposed, and clinical studies conducted to compare new and traditional treatments. This illustrated text presents, for the first time, a comprehensive and cohesive science-based approach to bad breath, combining basic research with clinical approaches to diagnosis and treatment. All aspects of the subject are examined thoroughly and critically, including the psychological impact of breath odor and future prospects. The authors draw upon more than thirty years’ combined experience in this field, both in the laboratory and as consultants to thousands of patients in Canada, the US, the UK, and elsewhere.