Have you had a serum iron level and ferritin done ? An iron overload can result in an overgrowth of the oral microbacteria :
http://www.science20.com/catarina_amori ... what_going
In the white population , 1 in 200 has Hemochromatosis which is an inherited disease with iron overload . When there is an iron overload , Lactoferrin antibacterial function lost its capability to retard the growth of microbacteria :
The antibacterial functions of lactoferrin have been substantiated by both in vitro [37–39] and in vivo [40,41] evidence. It appears that two different mechanisms involving two separate domains of the protein contribute to the antimicrobial functions of lactoferrin. The first mechanism is a bacteriostatic effect related to the high iron binding affinity of the protein that deprives iron-requiring bacteria of this essential growth nutrient [37,42,43]. Since the bacteriostatic properties of lactoferrin are due to its iron binding ability, the protein is capable of retarding the growth of a broad range of microorganisms including a variety of gram negative and gram positive bacteria and certain yeasts [42,44]. However, bacteriostasis is often temporary because some gram negative bacteria adapt to iron restrictive conditions by synthesizing low molecular weight iron chelators (siderophores) that can remove iron from lactoferrin. The efficacy of bacteriostasis is dependent on the iron status of lactoferrin and is overcome by saturation of lactoferrin with iron
Physiological concentrations of lactoferrin are capable of killing or inhibiting the growth of a wide spectrum of infectious organisms including bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. One mechanism probably involved in at least some of the anti-microbial effects of lactoferrin is that, by strongly binding iron, lactoferrin deprives foreign organisms of essential iron. Interestingly, friendly bacteria, i.e., those that have beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal tract (e.g. Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bifidus and Lactobacillus G.G., may be resistant to such effects by virtue of the fact that they are less dependent on exogenous sources of iron.
In another study , 30% of the population has iron overload :
http://www.consumerhealth.org/articles/ ... 0303140150
Iron - Immune system and bad breath
I have my iron level and ferritin level checked every 3 months b/c if I don't take iron pill it drops very low. My last iron was 9.1 and ferritin <3.
my husband works with someone who has to give blood every month b/c his iron is to high and I asked him if he ever had bb and he said he never smelled it on him.
my husband works with someone who has to give blood every month b/c his iron is to high and I asked him if he ever had bb and he said he never smelled it on him.