Halitosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Halitosis, including details on bad breath, oral hygiene, oral bacteria, treatment.

Relationship between the presence of tonsilloliths and halitosis in patients with chronic caseous tonsillitis.

Rio AC, Franchi-Teixeira AR, Nicola EM

Dental Surgeon/Doctoral Student in Medical Sciences, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To study the volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) halitometry profile in a population with chronic caseous tonsillitis (CCT) and halitosis and to evaluate the relationship between the presence of a tonsillolith and abnormal halitometry in this population. DESIGN: Clinical prospective non-randomised study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-nine patients with halitosis and CCT, 17 male (35%) and 32 female (65%), were selected among patients referred for CO(2) laser cryptolysis. Anamnesis, physical examination and VSC halitometry were carried out. Halitometry values less than 150 ppb of VSC were considered normal. RESULTS: Patients were divided in two groups: Group A - normal halitometry (41 patients - 83.7%) and Group B - abnormal halitometry (8 patients - 16.3%). Halitometry results in Group B were 5.2 times (429%) higher than in Group A and the majority of the patients with abnormal halitometry presented with a tonsillolith at the moment of examination. A tonsillolith was present in 75% of the patients with abnormal halitometry and only 6% of patients with normal halitometry values. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a tonsillolith represents a tenfold increased risk of abnormal VSC halitometry and can be considered as a predictable factor for abnormal halitometry in patients with CCT.

Published 28 January 2008 in Br Dent J, 204(2): E4.
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