Comparison between self-estimated and clinical oral malodor.

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), H(2)S (r = 0.50) and CH(3)SH (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.