Abstract

AMORIM, Joaquina Araújo de et al. Analysis of the relationship between halitosis and white tongue. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) [online]. 2011, vol.59, n.1, pp. 7-13. ISSN 1981-8637.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the relationship between halitosis and white tongue. METHODS: The patients were interviewed and a clinical form was filled out. They were also examined by visual inspection and periodontal probing. The degree of halitosis was determined by the Breath Alert device. The universe of this study consisted of individuals who visited the clinics of the State University of Paraiba Dental Department during the study period. The sample consisted of 80 patients. RESULTS: Sixty-six percent of the patients reported cleaning their tongues, 32.5% reported never cleaning their tongues and 1.5% reported cleaning their tongues periodically. Forty-one point seven percent of the patients with mild halitosis and 60,0% of those with moderate halitosis presented white tongue. However, 52.4% of the patients without halitosis also presented white tongue. Only 21.3% of the sample presented halitosis; 15,0% had mild halitosis and 6.3% had moderate halitosis. CONCLUSION: According to the literature, the factors that promote the accumulation of dental biofilm on the tongue, resulting in white tongue, also promote the development and establishment of halitosis. However, the present study did not find a significant relationship between white tongue and halitosis.

Keywords : Etiology; Halitosis; Tongue.