Decoding Odor: The Chemical Composition of Bad Breath

 Decoding Odor: The Chemical Composition of Bad Breath

Methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) is a key compound responsible for bad breath. 

    This colorless gas, often described as smelling like rotten cabbage, contains sulfur and is produced both naturally and industrially.

Naturally, CH3SH is generated through microbial activity and the decomposition of organic matter. 

In the oral cavity, the production of methyl mercaptan is significantly influenced by the interaction between two types of bacteria: Streptococcus gordonii and Fusobacterium nucleatum.

Fusobacterium nucleatum, a common oral bacterium, produces large quantities of CH3SH when it is stimulated by another bacterium, Streptococcus gordonii. 

This process is specifically triggered by ornithine, a chemical emitted by S. gordonii. Upon detecting ornithine, F. nucleatum undergoes a chemical process that leads to an increased production of CH3SH, thereby contributing to bad breath.

These findings from Japanese research underscore the significant role of bacterial interactions in the production of odor-causing compounds in the mouth.

BY,

DR.RENJU T GEORGE

INDIA.