Objectives. To assess the effects on intra-oral halitosis by a mouth rinse containing zinc acetate (0.3%) and chlorhexidine diacetate (0.025%) with and without adjunct tongue scraping. Materials and methods. Twenty-one subjects without a diagnosis of periodontitis were randomized in a cross-over clinical trial. Organoleptic scores (OLS) were assessed to define intra-oral halitosis by total volatile sulfur compound (T-VSC) measurements and by gas chromatography. Results. Twenty-one subjects with a mean age of 45.7 years (SD: ±13.3, range: 21–66). The OLS were significantly lower following active rinse combined with tongue scraping (p < 0.001) at all time points. Immediately after, at 30 min, and at day 14, the T-VSC values were lower in the active rinse sequence than in the negative rinse sequence (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). At 30 min and at day 14, the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and methyl mercaptan (MM) values were lower in the active rinse sequence compared to the inactive rinse sequence (p < 0.001). The inactive rinse sequence with tongue scraping reduced T-VSC at 30 min (p < 0.001) but not at 14 days. Similar reductions in T-VSC, H2S and MM were found in the active rinse sequence with or without tongue scraping. Conclusion. The use of a tongue scraper did not provide additional benefits to the active mouth rinse, but reduced OLS and tongue coating index.
Intra-oral halitosis (bad breath) is reported to affect 15-83 % of the adult population. Having intra-oral halitosis is a social and psycho-logical handicap, and may cause people in the person’s social circle to increase the physical distance or to turn their faces in another direction to avoid the unpleasant smell from the exhaled air. Such behaviours may affect the individual’s self-confidence resulting in insecurity in social and intimate relations. The oral health-related quality of life status has also been reported to be lower in individuals with halitosis. Approximately 90% of what is considered as bad breath is the result of the degradation of organic substrates (proteins) by an- aerobic bacteria of the oral cavity. Intra-oral halitosis can be assessed using both subjective and objective methods to evaluate the subject’s exhaled air. The most common one and the one often referred to as the ”gold standard”, is the organoleptic scoring system (OLS). OLS is a subjective method evaluating the strength of halitosis in exhaled air using a scale from 0-5. One objective method to assess the presence of volatile sulphur compounds in exhaled air is to use a sulphide monitor measuring the total sum of the volatile sulphur compounds (T-VSC) in exhaled air. The three gases (hydrogensulphide (H2S), methyl mercaptan (MM) and dimethyl sulphide (DMS)) in exhaled air related to intra-oral halitosis can be assessed separately using a simplified gas chromatograph. Different treatment models such as periodontal treatment, tongue scraping and rinsing with Zn ion containing products have been used to reduce intra-oralhalitosis. The present thesis has evaluated the efficacy of different treatment models in the treatment of intra-oral halitosis.