[Effect of chewing gum on halitosis].

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

This study aims to estimate the prevalence of oral halitosis in a young population and show the effect of chewing gum on their breath.

PATIENTS AND METHOD:

Prospective, descriptive correlational cross section study. We selected a convenience sample of 121 young individuals and 98 completed the study. It was carried out at the University Dental Hospital-University of Barcelona. The protocol consisted of: questionnaire, oral clinical evaluation, organoleptic tests (OT) and measurement of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) with sulphide monitoring before and after chewing gum during 15 min, with 2 calibrated investigators.

RESULTS:

A percentage of 87.8 had adequate oral hygiene, 17.3% reported bad breath and 29.6% had xerostomia. Forty-four subjects had a OT grade ≥2; the agreement of examiners was 75%. The VSC in 53 individuals were ≤100 parts per billion (ppb) and in 45 subjects, it was>100 ppb. A post-reduction of VSC of 17.34% was obtained with a mean decrease of 1.8-9.0 ppb (P=.003).

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of halitosis was 36.7%. The use of chewing gum as an adjunct in cases of halitosis decreases the VSC, improving the perception of others and the patient.

• Authors: Fiorella De Luca-Monasterios, Eduardo Chimenos-Küstner, José López-López
• Journal: Medicina clinica (Med Clin (Barc)) Vol. 143 Issue 2 Pg. 64-7 (Jul 22 2014) ISSN: 1578-8989 [Electronic] Spain
• Vernacular Title: Efecto de masticar chicle sobre la halitosis.
• PMID: 24559542 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Chewing Gum

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Case-Control Studies
• Chewing Gum
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Halitosis (diagnosis, epidemiology, therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Prevalence
• Prospective Studies
• Spain (epidemiology)
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult