Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2020 Mar;65(1):4-11.
doi: 10.1111/adj.12725. Epub 2019 Nov 15.

Halitosis: prevalence, risk factors, sources, measurement and treatment - a review of the literature

J Wu  1 , R D Cannon  1 , P Ji  2 , M Farella  1 , L Mei  1
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Halitosis: prevalence, risk factors, sources, measurement and treatment - a review of the literature

J Wu et al. Aust Dent J. 2020 Mar.
Free article

Abstract

Halitosis, an offensive breath odour, has multiple sources and negative impacts on people's social interactions and quality of life. It is important for health care professionals, including general physicians and dental professionals, to understand its aetiology and risk factors in order to diagnose and treat patients appropriately. In this study, we have reviewed the current literature on halitosis regarding its prevalence, classification, risk factors, sources, measurement and treatment.

Keywords: Bad breath; halitosis; oral malodour.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Apatzidou AD, Bakirtzoglou E, Vouros I, Karagiannis V, Konstantinidis A. Association between oral malodour and periodontal disease-related parameters in the general population. Acta Odontol Scand 2013;71:189-195.
    1. Loesche WJ, Kazor C. Microbiology and treatment of halitosis. Periodontology 2000;28:256-279.
    1. Calil C, Liberato FL, Pereira AC, de Castro Meneghim M, Goodson JM, Groppo FC. The relationship between volatile sulphur compounds, tongue coating and periodontal disease. Int J Dent Hyg 2009;7:251-255.
    1. Coli JM, Tonzetich J. Characterization of volatile sulphur compounds production at individual gingival crevicular sites in humans. J Clin Dent 1992;3:97-103.
    1. Miyazaki H, Sakao S, Katoh Y, Takehara T. Correlation between volatile sulphur compounds and certain oral health measurements in the general population. J Periodontol 1995;66:679-684.