Bad Breath and Periodontal Disease?
What really causes bad breath? The answer is volatile sulphur compounds or VSCs. VSCs have three compounds released which are hydrogen sulfide (smells like rotten eggs), methyl mercaptan (smells like feces) and dimethyl sulfide (smells like a combination of cabbage, sulfur and gasoline).
The breakdown of foods, proteins, cells, blood and saliva causes the VSCs to be released. In regards to periodontal disease, the dead and decaying cells actually release the VSCs which could trigger periodontitis or other issues associated with periodontal disease.
Essentially, VSCs are the true cause of bad breath, or halitosis (technical term for it), and thus, play a significant role in the initiation of periodontitis and other forms of periodontal disease. It is important, however, to realize that not everyone with bad breath has periodontal disease, but research shows bad breath can be a precursor to it. The bottom line is to get to the root of what is causing the bad breath and seek proper treatment.