Breath Odors and the Gastrointestinal Tract

Reference
Aims
Malodor criteria
Findings
Criticism and comments
Carr et al. (2000)
ENT symptoms and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in small children (n  =  295)
Charts review
15% halitosis in GERD+ 24% halitosis in GERD–
 
Moshkowitz et al. (2007)
Possible association between GERD and halitosis (n  =  132)
Questionnaire
Halitosis was associated with GERD, heartburn, belching and sour taste
Self reported
Struch et al. (2008)
Self reported halitosis and GERD in general population (n  =  3,005)
Interview: “do you often suffer from bad taste in your mouth or from bad breath?”
GERD related symptoms (heartburn, acid regurgitation) were associated with halitosis subjects complaining of halitosis had more gingival bleeding and PPD  >  4 mm
Self reported (+Associating bad taste with bad breath)
Di Fede et al. (2008)
Oral manifestations in GERD (n  =  400)
“Subjective halitosis”
49% halitosis in GERD+ 31% halitosisin GERD– (p  =  0.0004)
Self reported

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) Infection

Helicobacter pylori is a spiral Gram-negative bacterium that is related to gastritis, gastric ulcer, and cancer. Associating Hp with breath malodor also started with an anecdotal observation. In the mid 1980s, Marshall ingested the cultivated bacteria to develop gastritis and fulfill Koch’s postulate (Marshall et al. 1985). While being infected, his colleagues noticed “putrid” odor in his breath.
Several studies were conducted in order to test the possible association between Hp infection and breath odors. Some of these studies (Gasbarrini et al. 1998; Moshkowitz et al. 2007; Schubert et al. 1992; Werdmuller et al. 2000) failed to find a link between the two. Again, these studies relied on self-reported halitosis rather than an objective means as the criterion for determining the presence of breath odors. Furthermore, few, if any, attempts were made to examine possible oral causes for the presence of malodor. Conversely, other studies (Candelli et al. 2003; Claus et al. 1996; Li et al. 2005) did show an association between Hp infection and halitosis. One of these studies (Claus et al. 1996) did rely on objective parameters (i.e., odor judge scores and GC measurements) in order to establish the presence of halitosis. Moreover, oral malodor-related parameters (PI-plaque index, GI-gingival index, PPD-periodontal pockets depth, TC-tongue coating) were also determined. Results of this study showed significantly higher mouth air malodor and H2S levels in Hp-positive subjects, whereas no difference was seen in oral health parameters (however they did differ in age groups). Interestingly, this study links between the presence of an Hp infection and breath odors of oral origin (mouth air) rather than extra oral origin (lung air) (Table 6.2).

Table 6.2

Hp and halitosis
Reference
Aims
Malodor/oral parameters
Findings and conclusions
Criticism and comments
Schubert et al. (1992)
Symptoms, gastritis and Hp
Interview
Hp: biopsy
No correlation between Hp and halitosis
Self reported
Gasbarrini et al. (1998)
Hp infection and GI symptoms in IDDM
Hp: [13C] urea breath test
Prevalence of halitosis did not differ between Hp  +  and – groups
Self reported
Werdmuller et al. (2000)
Clinical presentation of functional dyspepsia in Hp  +  (n  =  222) and Hp– (n  =  182) pat.
Halitosis by questionnaire
Hp: biopsy
Hp  +  29% halitosis Hp– 34% halitosis Conc: combination of retrosternal pain, weight loss, food intolerance, and absence of halitosis was predictive of Hp infection
Self reported
Moshkowitz et al. (2007)
GERD and halitosis
Questionnaire
Hp: rapid urease test (CLO test)
No correlation was found between Hp infection status and halitosis occurrence and severity
Self reported
Claus et al. (1996)
Halitosis and Hp (n  =  80; 31Hp+, 49Hp–)
Odor judge, GC
Hp: [13C] urea breath test
Significantly higher mouth air malodor and H2S levels in Hp+ No difference in oral health parameters (PI, GI, PPD, TC)
44.7 mean age for Hp+ 33.8 mean age for Hp–
Candelli et al. (2003)
Hp and GI symptoms in IDDM
Questionnaire Hp: [13C] urea breath test
Higher prevalence of halitosis in Hp  +  then Hp  – and in diabetics then controls
However, after correction for age, the difference was not significant. Self reported
Li et al. (2005)
Dyspeptic symptoms (n  =  782)
Questionnaire
Halitosis was more often found in dyspeptic patients with Hp infection (p  <  0.01)
Self reported
Another factor that may cause physicians to link Hp infection and breath odors is the clinical observation that the malodor tends to disappear following Hp eradication treatment. The first report to this effect was published in the early 1990s (Tiomny et al. 1992), showing the disappearance of breath malodor (as reported by respective family members) in four out of five patients following Hp eradication treatment (4 weeks) with metronidazole (although an earlier case report by Tydd in 1974, showed the same effect with tetracycline in pyloric stenosis patients). Several other larger studies (Ierardi et al. 1998; Katsinelos et al. 2007; Serin et al. 2003; Shashidhar et al. 2000) have also reported similar results. However, malodor production is for the most part bacterial in origin and any use of antibiotics, especially those targeted against Gram-negatives and anaerobes such as metronidazole, would be expected to affect the oral population of malodor producing bacteria and decrease or eliminate the malodor for a certain period of time.
To shed more light on this problem, one study (Ierardi et al. 1998) employed an antiseptic mouthwash containing chlorhexidine as a control showing no effect on oral volatile sulfide compounds levels in HP-positive subjects, whereas eradication therapy did reduce them. Another study (Katsinelos et al. 2007) offered long-term follow-up that showed the resolving of the malodor over a period of more than 6 months.
Nevertheless, other reports (Delanghe et al. 1996) and clinical experience show that 3–6 weeks following the end of the antibiotic course, the malodor gradually returns even though Hp is completely eradicated from the stomach (Table 6.3).

Table 6.3

Hp eradication therapy and halitosis
Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue

Stay updated, free dental videos. Join our Telegram channel

Tags:
Nov 30, 2015 | Posted by in General Dentistry | Comments Off on Breath Odors and the Gastrointestinal Tract

VIDEdental - Online dental courses

Get VIDEdental app for watching clinical videos