Halitosis - causes, diagnosis, treatment
Journal Title: Medical Science Pulse - Year 2016, Vol 10, Issue 4
Abstract
Halitosis is nowadays a common symptom. There are different causes of this problem. The most important are dentical, laryngological and gastrological reasons. There are many diagnostic methods of halitosis, otherwise it is not always possible to find the cause of the problem. There are many ways of halitosis management, therefore patients should be encouraged to diagnose and treat this troublesome ailment. Halitosis (halitus - smell, osis - chronic dysfunction) is a persistent, sometimes lasting for years unpleasant mouth odour. Other names for halitosis are: fetor ex ore, bad breath, oral malodour, ozostomy, stomatodysody. Distinguished from real halitosis we diagnose also pseudohalitosis and halitofobia, where environment doesn’t smell unpleasant mouth odour, but patient still claims for it. Fetor ex ore is quite common problem, population studies confirms it in about 15-30%. This disease can be a symptom of other diseases - gastrointestinal and respiratory tract, metabolic problems. Very important in causing halitosis are our dietary and hygienic habits. The easiest and most common diagnostic method of halitosis is assessment of patient’s expired air with doctor’s own smell (organoleptic method). Easy in use and practical is BANA test, that detects one of the proteolythic enzymes generated by bacteria, that colonise plaque and back of the tongue. There is also a test to objectivise halitosis, for example halimeter. Halimeter is a device measuring amount of volatile sulfides in expired air. The gas chromatography is a method of measuring the amount of each of volatile sulfides in expired air separately. This is a very sensitive and accurate method, but it is very expensive as well. Halitosis management consist primarily on treatment of the background disease, and afterwards on maintaining strict oral hygiene, using adequate oral liquids and chewing gums.
Authors and Affiliations
Sabina Herman, Elżbieta Mizgała, Joanna Herman, Katarzyna Ura-Sabat, Maciej Misiołek
Keywords
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