Aspectos epidemiológicos e etiológicos da halitose. Considerações recentes Epidemiological and etiological aspects of halitosis. Recent considerations

The halitosis is an important health issue that affects individuals of both genders and all ages. Seve- ral causes are attributed to halitosis, with the majority (90%) of cases starting in the mouth, mainly because of poor hygiene. The bad breath is a common com- plaint particularly among adults, globally spread, and more recent studies show that this change affects 30% of the Brazilian population. The objective of this work is to take a broad literary approach on halitosis, with emphasis on epidemiological and etiological aspects. Based on the survey we can conclude that is a pro- blem of oral health worldwide.