Authors: S. Roldan, E. G. Winkel (Clinic for Periodontology, Amsterdam), D. Herrera (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), M. Sanz (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) y A. J. Van Winkelhotf (Academic Centre for Dentistry, Amsterdam) 

Objective 

To assess the microbiological effects of a Halita mouthrinse formulation in oral halitosis patients. 

Methods 

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in two centres where 40 participants were included. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to screen patients. At the start of the study and 2 weeks after treatment, organoleptic scores for overall mouth smell, level of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) and the Winkel Tongue Coating Index were recorded. Standardised samples of tongue coating, saliva and subgingival plaque were microbiologically analysed. Participants were randomly assigned to either the test or the placebo group. 

Results 

High levels of Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia and Porphyromonas gingivalis were found in tongue coating, saliva and subgingival plaque samples. A significant positive correlation was also found between the total initial count of P. gingivalis in the saliva samples and the organoleptic and VSC scores. Two weeks after treatment, a reduction in the total count of anaerobes was observed in all test group samples. A significant positive correlation was also found in the test group between the reduction in total count of saliva samples and the reduction in organoleptic scores. Lastly, a significant reduction was observed in the total count and proportion of F. nucleatum and the total count of P. intermedia in tongue coating samples from the test group. 

Conclusions 

This study has shown the efficacy of the mouthrinse in reducing the microbiological parameters in three oral niches in non-periodontitis patients with moderate to severe halitosis, and this proved to be correlated with improvement of organoleptic and VSC scores, but not with tongue coating scores. Reference The effects of a new mouthrinse containing chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride and zinc lactate on the microflora of oral halitosis patients: a dual-centre, double-blind placebo-controlled study.