Correlation between oral malodor and periodontal bacteria

Abstract Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), including hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide, are primarily responsible for oral malodor. Recently, the mgl gene encoding L-methionine-α-deamino-γ-mercaptomethane-lyase, which produces methyl mercaptan, was cloned from Porphyromonas gingivalis . This article discusses the mechanism and pathogenic role of the formation of VSCs by oral bacteria.