title: [Levels of volatile sulfur compounds and the analysis of related factors in oral cavities of 384 health subjects in Chengdu].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of oral malodor in a group of health cohorts in Chengdu, China by using different diagnostic methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) level was evaluated by using Halimeter. The organoleptic score and tongue coating index were also evaluated. A questionnaire interview was conducted at the same time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 21.61% subjects whose oral VSCs level were more than 300 ppb. No significant difference was found between male and female for the VSCs values. The subjects with malodor (score > or = 6) evaluated by organoleptic score were 28.91%, and the difference between the male and female was significant (P < 0.05). Further, a significant correlation could be detected between the VSCs level, organoleptic score and tongue coating index (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study indicates that nearly one of fourth people suffer from oral malodor. Malodor has significant correlation with tongue coating, so cleaning of tongue dorsum is very important to reduce oral malodor.
authors.affiliation: Dental Department of Chendu Railway Hospital.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Hongchun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012903:Smell; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis*; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D013440:Sulfides; D013457:Sulfur Compounds