Many people are very unsure of themselves before going to a face-to-face interview, or when it comes to kiss that very special someone. Usually, they simply blow air into the palm of their hands and then check to see if they get nauseous. If not, all is good. Now, researchers have created a pocket-sized device that can detect even faint amounts of bad breath-causing bacteria, and all users have to do is place a small blob of saliva in it. It will rapidly analyze its contents, and then it will issue the “verdict.” Though the utility of the new tool remains somewhat vague, its producers expect it to register impressive sales when it comes out.

“OkayToKiss will turn blue if a person has enzymes in the mouth produced by the Gram-positive bacteria. The presence of these enzymes means that the mouth is busily producing bacteria that foster nasty breath,” Mel Rosenberg, who is a scientist at the Tel Aviv University, in Israel, and one of the developers of the new OkayToKiss device, explained its basic operating principle. In addition, the tool is disposable and is only the size of a chewing gum pack. This means that people will never be caught with it in their pockets, as it will most likely not cost too much.

The scientists who created the simple bacteria-detecting device believe that the instrument will encourage people to maintain a better oral hygiene. Once this is accomplished, users will also feel more sure of themselves in situations requiring close contact with other people. The experts envision their system being advertised in very much the same way brushing the teeth and flossing are today. Details of the new device are published in the March issue of the scientific journal Journal of Breath Research.

The research team, which has been involved in such investigations for the past two decades, has identified that Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria are equally responsible for creating bad breath, and that the positive kind actually facilitates the negative type's feeding process. The biomarkers they use to detect these two bacteria are similar to those used in other medical detection kits, such as, for example, pregnancy tests, LiveScience reports.