title: Diurnal changes in oral malodour among dental-office workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dentistry is a major resource for the treatment of halitosis, therefore dental professionals must also pay attention to their own oral malodour for professional courtesy. However, oral malodour among dental professionals has not yet been investigated. In this study, the diurnal changes in oral malodour in dental-office workers were determined, and preventative measures were assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diurnal changes in the levels of volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs), which are the main cause of oral malodour, in mouth air were determined with a gas chromatograph specially designed for such analysis and the effects of several preventive measures were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High concentrations of VSCs in mouth air persisted during the morning and decreased after lunch. Tongue-cleaning followed by tooth brushing decreased VSCs dramatically. Further measures such as eating breakfast, drinking tea or using zinc mouthwash significantly decreased VSCs, but the effects were limited in dental hygienists who suffered from persistent oral malodour, especially in the afternoon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eating breakfast, cleaning the tongue followed by brushing the teeth and zinc chloride mouthwash were very effective in preventing oral malodour in dental-office workers; however, the effectiveness of these preventive measures was limited in dental hygienists.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yaegaki
authors.forename: Takatoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamoda
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002712:Chlorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003797:Dental Staff; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis; D014059:Tongue; D014099:Toothbrushing; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D009067:Mouthwashes; D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C016837:zinc chloride