title: [Study on self-reported halitosis and the associated factors in patients in a periodontal clinic].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate self-reported halitosis in patients who visited a periodontal clinic and assess the possible factors associated with genuine  halitosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects included 435 patients who visited periodontal department of Peking University, School and Hospital of Stomatology. All  of them were non-smokers. First, the degree of halitosis was estimated by Organoleptic Test. Then, a standardized questionnaire focusing on life style,  oral hygiene, medical history, dental condition, self-reported halitosis was completed by all participants. Additionally, tongue coating was evaluated for  312 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  273 of 435 participants had self-reported halitosis. According to Organoleptic Test, 31.2% patients complaining halitosis had  actually no malodor while 68.8% had genuine halitosis. There was statistically significant difference of the proportion of patients who were unwilling to  mention about halitosis between genuine halitosis group and pseudo-halitosis group (P=0.003). Proportion of patients who had accepted treatment for  halitosis was statistically significant higher in pseudo-halitosis group than in genuine halitosis group (P=0.029). Logistic regression analysis showed  bleeding on brushing (OR=2.905, P=0.000), area of tongue coating≥2 (OR=2.395, P=0.019), thickness of tongue coating≥2 (OR=3.419, P=0.000) were factors  associated with genuine halitosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Not all self-reported patients actually had malodor, the psychological condition was different between  pseudo-halitosis and genuine halitosis patients. Bleeding on brushing, large tongue coating area, thick tongue coating were associated with genuine  halitosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Ting-ting
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult