Methane halitosis is commonly used to refer to the condition of bad breath.
Actually, methane halitosis is not a particular type of halitosis but more of a descriptive name for the general condition.
In fact, the constituents of breath are many -- there are a multitude of different volatile compounds that make up each and every breath of ours.
Actually, methane can be present not only in the breath but also in the flatus and faeces.
In some people, there is no methane present in the breath.
Also, it is possible for all healthy people to produce methane in the breath depending on various conditions.
Therefore the phrase "methane halitosis" is a bit of a misnomer -- perfectly healthy people with no bad breath can excrete methane in their breath.
The amount of methane in the breath tends to increase with the amount of carbohydrates eaten.
This is because methane is produced when bacteria break down carbs during digestion.
Strangely, breath methane is produced in different amounts depending on your ethnic origin and gender, as well as what you eat.
We should remember that, as well as methane, breath is made up of many different compounds.
The worst smelling ones are the volatile sulphur compounds.
So instead of calling a condition methane halitosis, it is probably more accurate to refer to it as methane halitosis.
This is why a machine known as a halimeter is often used in bad breath clinics.
Since the 1960s, we have known there is one dominant sulphur compound in particular, hydrogen sulphide, that contributes to bad breath.
The halimeter measure this sulphur compound and is an easy and portable method of measuring the scale of a person's bad breath.
Although used for years, the patent recently expired on this device and there are many other instruments now entering the market.
As competition grows, expect the first of consumer products to appear.