Evaluation of Halitosis Using Different Malodor Measurement Methods and Subjective Patients' Opinion Related Own Malodor

Objectives: The goal of this investigation was to evaluate halitosis using the different malodor measurement methods and to determine alignment between the measurements and subjective patients’ opinion. Materials and Methods: Totally 198 patients (122 females 61.6% and 76 males 38.4%, aged 13-65 years ,average 29.78 years) were completed a questionnaire. Each individual was recorded for both organoleptic score and measure odor scores (volatile sulfur compounds) using breath checker (Tanita Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). For the determination of halitosis, ordinal scales were used for breath checker and organoleptic evaluation ranging from0 to 5 respectively. If the mean grade of measurements were ≥ 2 described as halitosis. Chi-square test, descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation test was performed by using SPSS statistical software for analysis. Results: There was a moderate agreement (r: 0.404) between organoleptic scores and breath checker scores .There was a significant correlation between years of smoking habit (r: 0.356), frequency of the relative’s complaints about malodor (r: 0.329), tongue coating (r: 0.350). No significant correlation between organoleptic scores and patients own feelings about bad breath were found. Age and gender had no significant effect on malodor. Conclusions: Breath checker tool may be used for determination of halitosis. Since there was a moderate agreement between organoleptic scores which is accepted as gold standard and breath checker scores. It was surprisingly found that patients own feelings didn’t correlate with both measurements.