|
|
Article: Bacteria feed on stinky breath.(bad breath treatment using sulphur reducing bacteria)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- August 6, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Bad breath is something that most people fight hard to avoid. Now, scientists have isolated from people's mouths bacteria that aid in that battle. The microbes consume the chemicals that cause mouth odor.
Last year, Ann P. Wood of King's College London and her colleagues reported that a group of bacteria, known as methylotrophs, live off chemicals that emanate from smelly feet. These bacteria eat methylated sulfur compounds, chemicals that result from the breakdown of amino acids.
Further investigations by others showed that these compounds are also present in people's mouths--causing some types of bad breath. Wood's team wondered whether methylotrophs ...