Prevalence of the halitosis problem

The negative impact of halitosis, or an unpleasant odor coming from the mouth, on a patient ’s quality of life often leads to a visit to the dentist. Most individuals with halitosis have the odor as a result of oral sources, but the source can also be other than oral, such as an upper respiratory infection, gastrointestinal tract disorders, or diabetic ketoacidosis. Halitosis is diagnose d through self-report, organoleptic assessment, or volatile sulfur compound (VSC) level determination. The organoleptic method is considered the gold standard, but both it and the VSC method demand a trained examiner and specific equipment.
Source: Dental Abstracts - Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research