Characteristics of a cohort of patients suffering from halitosis and effect of a short-term treatment

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of a cohort of patients suffering from bad breath observed at the Halitosis Unit of the Department of Stomatology - University of Milano. Moreover, the diagnostic and the short-term therapeutic approach to these patients has been evaluated. Methods: The clinical chart of patients have been reviewed and relevant data collected to be analyzed with an Apple Powerbook G4 PC. Patients complaining of bad breath were admitted to the halitosis unit. At first visit they were submitted to (i) clinical interview (ii) oral and periodontal examination (iii) tongue coating index recording (iv) hedonic breath testing (count-to-twenty test, wrist-lick test, spoon test, floss test) (v) measurement of oral VSC concentration with Interscan Halimeter®. By 1 week patients were submitted to professional prophylaxis and oral hygiene instructions with specific attention to tongue brushing. Patients were then prescribed with no-alcohol chlorexidine 0.2% for 30 s mouthrinse plus 30 s gargle twice a day after brushing. At the control appointment after 2 weeks the tongue coating index, the hedonic tests and the oral VSC measurements were recorded again. Results: One hundred and nine patients (F = 52; M = 59) were observed and treated at the halitosis unit in the period 2000-2002. Thirteen patients were halitophobic without any objective evidence of bad breath whereas 14 had causal ENT diseases. Of the remaining 82 patients with halitosis from oral causes, 60 showed no evidence of active periodontitis. In this latter group a significant reduction of the hedonic test scores and of the oral VSC concentration was found in 85% of patients. Eighty percent also declared a subjective improvement. Conclusions The clinical protocol described was effective for the diagnosis and treatment of oral halitosis; the treatment with chlorexidine 0.2% was successful in the short-term control of the condition. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the scientific fund FIRST 2000 - UNIMI.