title: Reduction of oral malodor by oxidizing lozenges.
abstract: 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 malodor-related 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.
authors.affiliation: Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Greenstein
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marku-Cohen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sterer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002103:Cadaverine / Q000032:analysis; D002638:Chewing Gum; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D019686:Lamiaceae; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue; D009055:Mouth / Q000378:metabolism; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016877:Oxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011700:Putrescine / Q000032:analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis; D013607:Tablets; D014059:Tongue / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016877:Oxidants; D013440:Sulfides; D013607:Tablets; D002103:Cadaverine; D008751:Methylene Blue; D011700:Putrescine