Clinical Trial Evaluating Quality of Life in Patients with Intra-Oral Halitosis.

Halitosis is considered to be extremely unattractive in the context of social interactions. The main research objective of this study was to evaluate whether intra-oral halitosis may impact patients' quality of life (QOL). One hundred generally healthy adult participants complaining about oral malodor and diagnosed with intra-oral halitosis were enrolled in this study. For halitosis diagnosis, a gas chromatography (GC) analysis by the Oral Chroma portable device was used. QOL assessment was based on the Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36). The respondents had the highest scores in the physical functioning (PF), activity limitations caused by emotional problems (RE) and activity limitations caused by physical problems (RP) domains, and the weakest in the general health perception (GH), vitality (VT) and emotional wellbeing (MH) ones. The total volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) level was negatively correlated with SF-36 domains. The SF-36 domains' scores decreased the higher the level of VSC was. The respondents assessed their QOL to be at its best in physical functioning and activity limitations caused by emotional and physical problems and the worst in general health perception, vitality and emotional wellbeing. The strongest correlation between halitosis and decreased QOL was found in the social functioning (SF), vitality, emotional wellbeing and general health perception domains.

Efficacy of a Zinc Lactate Mouthwash and Tongue Scraping in the Reduction of Intra-Oral Halitosis: A Single-blind, Controlled, Crossover Clinical Trial-A Pilot Study.

Intra-oral halitosis is defined as an unpleasant odor that comes out of the mouth. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of zinc lactate mouthwash and tongue scraping on intra-oral halitosis. The study was conducted on 60 volunteers that were divided into two groups and fol-lowed two types of 14-day oral hygiene protocols on a cross-over basis after a 7-day wash-out period. One protocol was based on tooth brushing only, while the other was based on additional mouth rinsing with a zinc lactate product and tongue scraping. Morning mouth breath was as-sessed organoleptic and by volatile sulfur compound concentrations. The highest mean organo-leptic and volatile sulfur compound measurement values were found in the tooth brushing without mouth washing and tongue scraping oral hygiene protocol (p < 0.05). The zinc lactate mouthwash combined with tongue scraping appears to be an important hygienic procedure to reduce breath odor.

[Stevens-Johnson Syndrom and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis--based on literature]. / Zespól Stevensa-Johnsona oraz zespól toksycznej nekrolizy naskórka--na podstawie pismiennictwa.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome (TEN) also known as Lyell's syndrome, are acute autoimmune dermatoses, which are potentially life threatening. They are both forms of necrotic skin reactions which causes epidermis to separate from dermis as a result of abnormal process induced by drugs or infections. Historically they were classified as a form of exudative erythema multiforme, but nowadays they are categorized as different disease entities. The reason is more severe clinical course in case of SJS and TEN, and known causes (medicines, infections). The criterion for distinguishing the two forms is based on the quantitative evaluation of the surface of affected skin. In case of SJS the affected area comprise up to 10% of body surface area, while in Lyell's syndrome it is over 30%. If affected skin surface ranges from 10% to 30%, it is defined as overlapping syndrome.

An Evaluation of Halitosis using Oral Chroma™ Data Manager, Organoleptic Scores and Patients' Subjective Opinions.

BACKGROUND: Halitosis or breath odor, is defined as an unpleasant or offensive odor emanating from the mouth. Three forms are distinguished: genuine halitosis, pseudohalitosis and halitophobia. The source of 85% of all cases of halitosis lies in the oral cavity. According to the literature, between 10% and 50% of the population suffers from halitosis. The objective of this study was to provide an assessment of halitosis using an organoleptic method, Oral Chroma™ Data Manager and patients' subjective assessments of their condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 adult patients took part in the study. The patients were examined by a trained and licensed dentist. An organoleptic assessment was made of a patient's breath (scale 0-5) and a test performed on air samples from the oral cavity using the Oral Chroma™ Data Manager. The organoleptic score was rated according to the Rosenberg Scale. Next, the patient had to fill out a Halitosis Associated Life-quality Test (HALT) questionnaire. A statistical analysis was performed using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and SPSS 17.0 statistical software. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: According to the Tau b Kendall test, the correlation coefficient between the organoleptic assessment and the patient's own assessment was 8.1%, while the rho Spearman correlation coefficient was 10.4%. In the majority of cases, the patient's own assessment was higher than the organoleptic assessment. The HALT questionnaire revealed a Cronbach's coefficient alpha was of 0.929. CONCLUSIONS: Halitosis requires not only professional care provided by dental specialists, but also psychological support.

[Pseudohalitosis and halitophobia]. / Pseudohalitoza i halitofobia.

Halitosis, or bad breath occurs in 25 % of the population. 85% of the causes are located within the oral cavity (for example: periodontitis, pathologicaly coated tongue or poor oral hygiene). This is the reason why the dentist is often the first person, who sees patients presenting this problem. While some patients feel that their breath smells bad, people with genuine halitosis usually do not notice this fact, which has been called the "bad breath paradox". For people in whom symptoms of halitosis are not present, and yet they complain about having them, psuedohalitosis or halitophobia are described. The phenomena responsible for the increase in the number of cases of halitophobia and pseudohalitosis are advertising of oral hygiene products and the fact that patients pay more attention to the quality of mouth odour. It is important to make a correct diagnosis, identify the causes of the disease and to take appropriate steps in order to cure the patient. The paper presents, on the basis of literature, causes of pseudohalitosis and halitophobia and describes the treatment of patients who have been diagnosed with these conditions.