Halicheck Gas Chromograph
This is a specialised Gas Chromography test that measures the individual gases of bad breath. This machine is so specialised that there are fewer than 500 units worldwide, and Australian Breath Clinics are proud to base their diagnosis around the results this machine can give us. Gas Chromatography is an extremely accurate science that is the accepted method to measure gas compounds in air samples. The machine is so accurate that it can measure gas compounds as few as one part gas compound per billion parts of air. Most human noses only begin to be able to sense smells at around 50 to 100 parts of gas per billion parts of air. So the machine is way more sensitive than the human nose.

Halicheck is therefore extremely useful in a number of ways. It is the core element in aiding the specific diagnosis of which component of bad breath is causing the embarrassment and offence. This is extremely important as it enables the Breath Clinic to tailor a treatment for your individual condition. But Halicheck is also useful as a preventative screening to ensure that your ongoing bad breath treatment or regime is working for you.

Halicheck is also vitally important at helping to preventatively screen for other mouth conditions, such as periodontal disease and gingivitis. Even low concentrations of bad breath gases, in particular Methyl Mercaptan play an important role in the pathogenesis of gum disease, as bad breath gases have been shown to be highly toxic to gingival tissue, and thus can accelerate a periodontal condition. The relationship between oral malodour, gingivitis, and periodontitis. A review. P A Ratcliff and P W Johnson J Periodontal. 1999 May;70 (5) 485-9 10368052

Ng and Tonzetich found that the permeability of sublingual mucosa increased 103% following exposure to methyl mercaptan, indicating that Methyl Mercaptan plays a large role in the cause and progression of periodontal (gum) disease. Effect of hydrogen sulphide and methyl mercaptan on the permeability of oral mucosa. Ng W and Tonzetich J, J DentRes 63(7):994-1007, 1984.)

Halicheck is specifically developed to screen for Methyl Mercaptan, which has a smell of faeces. Some of the bacteria in gum disease that release Methyl Mercaptan are Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bacteroides forsthus, fusobacterium nucleatum and Bacteroides melanogenicus.