[Halitosis--foetor ex ore].

BACKGROUND

An overview is presented on the etiology, diagnosis, and therapy of halitosis.

METHODS

Results are given of our multidisciplinary halitosis outpatient department started in 1994. The team consists of ENT specialists and paradontologists, occasionally assisted by a psychiatrist. The oral odor is confirmed with a halitometer (Interscan Corporation, Model RH-17E USA). 491 Patients, nearly the same number of males as females, mostly between 20 and 50 years of age were seen.

RESULTS

Oral causes (87%) were due to tongue coating (51%), gingivitis (17%), paradontitis (15%), or combinations of factors (17%). The other 13% involved causes related to ENT problems (4%), both ENT and oral (3%), digestive tract (1%), and presumed psychiatric pathology (5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Many patients underwent diagnostic and therapeutic aimed interventions to no avail prior to their arrival in our halitosis clinic. Usually advising the patient to maintain better oral hygiene is sufficient.