title: Comparison between self-estimated and clinical oral malodor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims were to evaluate the validity of patients' self-estimation and clinical diagnosis of oral malodor and to examine the relationship of oral malodor with oral health status.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 252 patients (mean age 43.7 ± 10.7 years) who complained of oral malodor. Oral malodor was assessed by patients' self-estimation, organoleptic test and Oral Chroma. Oral health status, including dental and periodontal conditions, oral hygiene status and flow rate of saliva, was examined. The N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-2-napthilamide (BANA) positive bacteria in tongue coating were evaluated by BANA test. A Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to test correlation between self-perceived and clinical oral malodor. The stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to assess predictors of patients' self-estimated and clinical oral malodor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of patients who were diagnosed with pseudo-halitosis was 38.5%. Patients' self-estimated oral malodor was significantly correlated with organoleptic test (r = 0.61), H(2)S (r = 0.50) and CH(3)SH (r = 0.46). There were 47.1% of patients who estimated correctly their oral malodor's scores with those by examiner. The highest correspondence was found in patients without oral malodor (52.6%), followed by in those with moderate or strong oral malodor (46.7%) and in those with slight oral malodor (33.3%). The significant predictors of patients' self-estimated and clinical oral malodor were bleeding on probing, tongue coating, BANA test and flow rate of saliva.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients' self-estimated oral malodor was found to correspond significantly with clinical oral malodor and be associated with oral health status. Current findings suggest that self-estimation can be used to judge one's own oral malodor.
authors.affiliation: National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. pavthuy@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Thuy A V
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Pham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001587:Benzoylarginine-2-Naphthylamide; D001944:Breath Tests; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012636:Secretory Rate; D057566:Self Report; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D014059:Tongue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D001587:Benzoylarginine-2-Naphthylamide