Comparison between self-estimated and clinical oral malodor

Abstract

Objectives. The aims were to evaluate the validity of patients' self-estimation and clinical diagnosis of oral malodor and to examine the relationship of oral malodor with oral health status. Methods. The subjects were 252 patients (mean age 43.7 ± 10.7 years) who complained of oral malodor. Oral malodor was assessed by patients' self-estimation, organoleptic test and Oral Chroma. Oral health status, including dental and periodontal conditions, oral hygiene status and flow rate of saliva, was examined. The N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-2-napthilamide (BANA) positive bacteria in tongue coating were evaluated by BANA test. A Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to test correlation between self-perceived and clinical oral malodor. The stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to assess predictors of patients' self-estimated and clinical oral malodor. Results. The percentage of patients who were diagnosed with pseudo-halitosis was 38.5%. Patients' self-estimated oral malodor was significantly correlated with organoleptic test (r = 0.61), H₂S (r = 0.50) and CH₃SH (r = 0.46). There were 47.1% of patients who estimated correctly their oral malodor's scores with those by examiner. The highest correspondence was found in patients without oral malodor (52.6%), followed by in those with moderate or strong oral malodor (46.7%) and in those with slight oral malodor (33.3%). The significant predictors of patients' self-estimated and clinical oral malodor were bleeding on probing, tongue coating, BANA test and flow rate of saliva. Conclusion. Patients' self-estimated oral malodor was found to correspond significantly with clinical oral malodor and be associated with oral health status. Current findings suggest that self-estimation can be used to judge one's own oral malodor.

Key Words::

• oral malodor
• periodontal diseases
• tongue coating
• bacteria

Acknowledgments

The author would like to express gratitude to Professor Yoko Kawaguchi and Associate Professor Masayuki Ueno, Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan for their advices.

Declaration of interest: The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.