Dental Health Current Topics in Dental Health

Can You Smell Me Now?

If your stinky exhalation is causing aggravation, a new electronic nose may help you sniff out the offending odor before you send your friends running from the stench.

By detecting levels of methyl mercaptan, the chemical responsible for the worst cases of halitosis (better known as bad breath), the newly-developed device may be a godsend for every teen who tests their breath by breathing into their cupped hands before a big date and for every professional popping breath mints before a meeting.

"Unfortunately, our human [nose] is less than perfect, in particular in detecting self-body odor," explains Kohji Mitsubayashi, a member of the team that developed the product from Tokyo Medical and Dental University in Japan.

Bad breath is caused by high amounts of bacteria in the mouth, which feed off of food and dead skin cells in your mouth. The bacteria then release various gases, some of which cause bad breath. Older bad-breath sensors, which can occasionally be found in a dentist's office, are only able to sense sulphur, the same chemical that gives rotting eggs their putrid scent. But the majority of the sulphur-filled gas in your mouth is much less pungent in smell than methyl mercaptan and masks the true amount of this odorous chemical in the mouth.

The new sensor, presented in October 2005 in The Analyst, contains an enzyme that only reacts to methyl mercaptan itself, allowing it to sniff past the sulphur in one's saliva. The device is twice as sensitive as the human nose, according to the researchers.

While it may not be available for a few years, Mitsubayashi sees a big future for his creation. The device is small enough to fit into cell phones, so people may one day be able to test their breath inconspicuously as they chat.

Getting Past the Smell
Discovering bad breath is helpful for social situations, but it can also serve as an important warning sign of gum disease. So, dentists may find that the new device is a good indicator of who needs extra monitoring and increased oral care.

"While even the healthiest mouth can cause bad breath, bleeding gums give bacteria a place to hide," says Dr. Richard Price, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association.

And if your breath does reek, Price advises conquering the odorous mouth the same way you would smelly armpits or toes—clean it. Most importantly, make sure you brush your tongue, especially way in the back where bacteria love to hide. Mouthwashes can help too, but brushing should come first.

"Mouthwash is like a deodorant," says Price, "You still need to take a shower beforehand."

And if your breath is particularly funky, Price recommends using a tongue scraper, a device specially designed to remove all of the creatures from your tongue. These small, plastic tool, available at most drug stores, allow you to safely loosen the bacteria on the back of your tongue without causing you to gag.

"Scrape your tongue first thing in the morning and last thing at night," he says. "And you won't wake up with dragon breath."