Effectiveness of full- and partial-mouth disinfection on halitosis in periodontal patients.

To compare the effectiveness of full- and partial-mouth disinfection for halitosis control, patients were assigned to treatment with full-mouth therapy (complete scaling and root planing in one stage within 24 h) or conventional therapy in quadrants (scaling and root planing performed by quadrant over a period of 4 weeks) (n = 90 for each group). Both groups were then subdivided: half the patients scraped their tongue daily and half did not. The patients were then evaluated by halimeter, organoleptic testing, and tongue coating index. Halimeter evaluation showed greater reduction of sulfide gases after full-mouth therapy than after conventional therapy (P < 0.001). However, organoleptic testing and the tongue coating index showed no difference among the four treatment groups. There was also no difference in relation to tongue scraping. In conclusion, halimeter evaluation showed that the reduction in volatile sulfur compounds was significantly greater after full-mouth therapy than after conventional therapy. However, this difference was not observed in organoleptic evaluation.