Malodor and periodontitis: casual or causal?

Abstract

Halitosis can be a crippling social problem.However, in the last 5 to 6 years, it has come to the forefront of public and dental professional awareness.The mouth is home to hundreds of bacterial species that produce several fetid substances as a result of protein degradation. Volatile sulfur compound (VSC)-producing bacteriacolonizing the lingual dorsum, gingival pockets, and tonsillar crypts have recently been implicated in the generation of halitosis. Understanding causes, assessment, and treatment of oral malodor can help dental professionals find ways to decrease its prevalence and increase their patients' well-being.This article reviews the etiology and various connections among periodontal pathogenic microorganisms, periodontal disease and oral malodor from a periodontal perspective.