[Study on self-reported halitosis and the associated factors in patients in a periodontal clinic].

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate self-reported halitosis in patients who visited a periodontal clinic and assess the possible factors associated with genuine halitosis. METHODS:The subjects included 435 patients who visited periodontal department of Peking University, School and Hospital of Stomatology. All of them were non-smokers. First, the degree of halitosis was estimated by Organoleptic Test. Then, a standardized questionnaire focusing on life style, oral hygiene, medical history, dental condition, self-reported halitosis was completed by all participants. Additionally, tongue coating was evaluated for 312 patients. RESULTS:273 of 435 participants had self-reported halitosis. According to Organoleptic Test, 31.2% patients complaining halitosis had actually no malodor while 68.8% had genuine halitosis. There was statistically significant difference of the proportion of patients who were unwilling to mention about halitosis between genuine halitosis group and pseudo-halitosis group (P=0.003). Proportion of patients who had accepted treatment for halitosis was statistically significant higher in pseudo-halitosis group than in genuine halitosis group (P=0.029). Logistic regression analysis showed bleeding on brushing (OR=2.905, P=0.000), area of tongue coating≥2 (OR=2.395, P=0.019), thickness of tongue coating≥2 (OR=3.419, P=0.000) were factors associated with genuine halitosis. CONCLUSION:Not all self-reported patients actually had malodor, the psychological condition was different between pseudo-halitosis and genuine halitosis patients. Bleeding on brushing, large tongue coating area, thick tongue coating were associated with genuine halitosis.