Open AccessHalitosis - An overview: Part-I - Classification, etiology, and pathophysiology of halitosis
Author(s) -
GS Madhushankari,
Andamuthu Yamunadevi,
M Selvamani,
Kirthi Kumar,
Praveen S Basandi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy and bioallied sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.268
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 0976-4879
pISSN - 0975-7406
DOI - 10.4103/0975-7406.163441
Subject(s) - etiology , pathophysiology , medicine , oral cavity , periodontal disease , dentistry , disease , bioinformatics , intensive care medicine , pathology , biology
Halitosis is a condition where the breath is altered in an unpleasant manner for the affected individuals and impairs them socially as well as psychologically. Halitosis can be clinically classified as real halitosis, pseudohalitosis, and halitophobia. Real halitosis has oral and extra-oral etiologies and the pathophysiology involves interaction of anaerobic microbes (mainly) with the proteins present in the oral cavity fluids and contents, resulting in production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). These VSCs, beyond responsible for halitosis, can also initiate and accelerate periodontal disease progression. Thus, this review is about the pathophysiology and various etiologies of halitosis, the knowledge of which can help in the betterment of treatment options.