Etiology and characteristics of halitosis in patients of a halitosis center in Northern Italy.

BACKGROUND

As there are few studies in Europe describing characteristics of breath malodor for large groups of patients, this retrospective study was designed to analyse the etiology of halitosis among patients attending a breath malodor center in Northern Italy.

METHODS

Clinical records of 547 consecutive patients were reviewed and data on self-perceived halitosis, organoleptic scores, volatile sulphur compound (VSC) levels, and oral health condition were extracted and analysed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of intra-oral halitosis was 90.7%. In 21 patients no objective signs of breath malodor could be found. Periodontitis and gingivitis were the main cause of bad breath in 33.9% of subjects and in combination with tongue coating in 55.2%. Only eight subjects have tongue coating as the only cause of halitosis. Ear, nose and throat (ENT)/extra-oral causes were found in 5.2% of the patients. VSC concentrations were lower in the psychogenic halitosis group, whereas no statistically significant differences were detected when comparing intra-oral and extra-oral halitosis except for (CH3)2S.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychogenic halitosis is a rare condition among subjects complaining of suffering from bad breath. The most prevalent cause of halitosis is intra-oral, in particular a combination of tongue coating and periodontal disease. Tongue coating is rarely the primary cause of oral malodor.