Brunette D M
Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Compend Contin Educ Dent Suppl. 1996;17(19):S22-32.
Oral malodor, also known as bad breath or halitosis, is an extremely common problem. Bad breath can arise from many sources in the body, but most frequently is produced in the mouth by the action of gram-negative anaerobic bacteria on sulfur-containing proteinaceous substrates in the saliva, such as debris and plaque. The primary molecules responsible for oral malodor are volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), such as hydrogen sulfide and methylmercaptan. Increased malodor production is related to greater bacterial numbers, reducing conditions, availability of protein substrates, and a pH above neutral. Bad breath is more common in the elderly, as well as those with unhygienic mouths, gingivitis, and periodontitis, but bad breath can also be found in some individuals who are periodontally healthy. The major source of oral malodor is the tongue. Approaches to controlling malodor have included masking, oral hygiene, antibacterial agents, conversion of VSC to nonodorous forms, oxidizing agents, and traditional approaches, including the use of baking soda. Results of controlled double-blind crossover studies, using both organoleptic (sensory) and gas chromatographic analysis of mouth air VSC, indicate that two dentifrices with high baking-soda concentrations, Arm & Hammer Dental Care and Arm & Hammer PeroxiCare, reduce oral malodor.
口腔异味，也称为口臭或口气不佳，是一个极其常见的问题。口臭可能源于身体的许多部位，但最常见的是由革兰氏阴性厌氧菌对唾液中含硫蛋白质底物（如食物残渣和牙菌斑）的作用在口腔中产生的。导致口腔异味的主要分子是挥发性硫化合物（VSC），如硫化氢和甲硫醇。异味产生增加与细菌数量增多、还原环境、蛋白质底物的可用性以及pH值高于中性有关。口臭在老年人以及口腔不卫生、患有牙龈炎和牙周炎的人群中更为常见，但在一些牙周健康的个体中也可能出现。口腔异味的主要来源是舌头。控制异味的方法包括掩盖、口腔卫生、抗菌剂、将VSC转化为无臭形式、氧化剂以及传统方法，包括使用小苏打。使用口腔气味的感官（感觉）和气相色谱分析的对照双盲交叉研究结果表明，两种高浓度小苏打牙膏，即Arm & Hammer Dental Care和Arm & Hammer PeroxiCare，可减少口腔异味。
