Is halitosis a disease?

star_gazer

There is some controversy over the role of periodontal diseases in causing bad breath. Whereas bacteria growing below the gumline (subgingival dental plaque) have a foul smell upon removal, several studies reported no statistical correlation between malodor and periodontal parameters. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halitosis Sep 16 09, 6:35 AM

zbeckabee

Halitosis is not a disease, but a condition or "symptom," if you will: "An estimated sixty-five percent of Americans have bad breath. Over forty-million Americans have "chronic halitosis," which is persistent bad breath. Ninety percent of all halitosis is of oral, not systemic, origin." http://www.themouthdoctor.com/halitosis/10-halitosisandmedications.htm Here are characteristic bad breath odors associated with some of these illnesses: •Diabetes - acetone, fruity •Liver failure - sweetish, musty •Acute rheumatic fever - acid, sweet •Lung abscess - foul, putrefactive •Blood dyscrasias - resembling decomposed blood •Liver cirrhosis - resembling decayed blood •Uremia - ammonia or urine •Hand-Schuller-Christian disease - fetid breath and unpleasant taste •Scurvy - foul breath from stomach inflammation •Wegner`s granulomatosis - Necrotic, putrefactive •Kidney failure - ammonia or urine •Diphtheria, dysentery, measles, pneumonia, scarlet fever, tuberculosis - extremely foul, fetid odor •Syphilis - fetid http://www.dentistsugarland.com/library/25/BadBreath(halitosis).html Sep 16 09, 7:19 AM