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Halitosis and Helicobacter pylori: A Possible Relationship

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Abstract

With the aim of investigating a possiblerelationship between “objective” halitosis(established by sulfide levels in the breath) andHelicobacter pylori, we performed a study in 58dyspeptic patients reported to suffer from "badbreath." Furthermore, we evaluated the effects onhalitosis of eradication therapy (only for H.pylori-positive patients) and chlorhexidine antisepticmouth rinses (in all patients). Sulfide compoundassay indicated objective halitosis in 52/58 patients,30 of whom were positive and 22 negative for H. pylori.In 19/30 eradication by double therapy provoked a decrease to below the cutoff value of sulfidelevels in 15. In the other 11 of the 30 subjects, inwhom H. pylori positivity persisted, halitosisparameters did not change. Chlorexidine reduced sulfides to below the cutoff value in 16/22 H.pylori-negative patients, but did not provoke any changein the 11 unsuccessfully treated H. pylori-positivesubjects. In these, objective halitosis disappeared only after a successful eradication by tripletherapy (9/11). Our results show a possible associationbetween halitosis and H. pylori since bacterialeradication may resolve the symptom. Antisepticmouthwashes may be effective only in absence of H. pylori,when halitosis may be due to oral putrefactive microbialactivity. In a small number of subjects the cause andtreatment of halitosis need to be clarified.

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Authors
  1. Enzo Ierardi
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  2. Annacinzia Amoruso
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  3. Teresa La Notte
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  4. Ruggiero Francavilla
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  5. Stefania Castellaneta
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  6. Elisa Marrazza
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  7. Rosa Anna Monno
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  8. Antonio Francavilla
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Ierardi, E., Amoruso, A., Notte, T.L. et al. Halitosis and Helicobacter pylori: A Possible Relationship. Dig Dis Sci 43, 2733–2737 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026619831442

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026619831442

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