Reduction of Oral Malodor by Oxidizing Lozenges

• Published in: Journal of periodontology (1970) 1997-12, Vol.68 (12), p.1176-1181
• Main Authors: Greenstein, Ronit Bar‐Ness, Goldberg, Sarit, Marku‐Cohen, Sharon, Sterer, Nir, Rosenberg, Mel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Cadaverine - analysis; Chewing Gum; Coloring Agents; Female; Halitosis - metabolism; Halitosis - prevention & control; Halitosis/drug therapy; Humans; Lamiaceae; Male; Methylene Blue; Mouth - metabolism; Multivariate Analysis; Oxidants - administration & dosage; Oxidants - therapeutic use; Putrescine - analysis; Regression Analysis; Saliva - chemistry; Self-Assessment; Smell - physiology; Sulfides - analysis; Tablets; Tongue - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-3492; 1943-3670
• DOI: 10.1902/jop.1997.68.12.1176

The main purpose of the study was to examine the anti‐malodor properties of oxidizing lozenges, as compared to breath mints and chewing gum. Healthy, young adult volunteers (N = 123; mean age 24.5 years) were measured for oral malodorrelated parameters (whole mouth odor measured by 2 judges; tongue dorsum posterior odor using the spoon test; volatile sulphide levels; salivary levels of cadaverine and putrescine; and 2 versions of an oral rinse test) on the first afternoon of the study. They were then assigned randomly to one of 6 groups (2 brands of breath mints, chewing gum with no active ingredients, regular and full‐strength oxidizing lozenges, and a no‐treatment control), and instructed to employ the treatment before bedtime, the next morning, and in the early afternoon 3 hours prior to measurements, which were carried out 24 hours following baseline measurements. Volunteers also estimated the level of their own whole mouth and tongue odors at baseline and post‐treatment. The data showed that, among treatments, only the full‐strength oxidizing lozenge significantly reduced tongue dorsum malodor, as determined by the spoon test. The full‐strength lozenge also yielded a significant increase in the modified oral rinse test, presumably due, at least in part, to residual oxidizing activity retained in the oral cavity. Self‐estimations of whole mouth and tongue malodor by volunteers were significantly correlated with corresponding‐judge assessments, suggesting some degree of objectivity in assessing one's own oral malodor. J Periodontol 1997;68:1176–1181.