Cosmetic Dentistry Articles from
Beverly Hills Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Thomas Stelmach

Halitosis: The Backstory is Bacteria


Halitosis is the medical term for simple old-fashioned bad breath. You may be surprised to learn that for 80-90% of us, halitosisis caused by bacteria in the mouth. More specifically, and even less tasteful, it is caused by the waste products of oral bacteria.

Yuck.

Your mouth can be home for hundreds of different species of bacteria, some which do create waste products that cause bad breath and others that don’t. The balance between quantities of these two different types of bacteria ultimately determines the quality of your breath. Excess plaque can tip the scales in favor of the ‘bad’ bacteria.

The good news is that if you practice good home dental care and stay regular with cleanings and dental exams – and you will, right? – you will be removing bacteria from your mouth before it has a chance to proliferate and cause a problem.

More articles from Dr. Stelmach