Case-control study related to the use of L-cysteine in the differential diagnosis of oral halitosis

• Published in: Journal of breath research Vol. 16; no. 2
• Main Authors: Simpione, Guilherme, Reia, Verônica Caroline Brito, Santaella, Natália Garcia, Maluf, Gustavo, Santos, Paulo Sérgio Da Silva
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-04-2022
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Breath Tests; Case-Control Studies; Cysteine; Diagnosis, Differential; Halitosis - diagnosis; Halitosis - etiology; Humans; Middle Aged; Sulfur Compounds - analysis; L-cysteine; mouth; sulfur compounds; halitosis
• ISSN: 1752-7163
• DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/ac4c44

Oral halitosis is characterized by a foul, unpleasant breath that emanates from the oral cavity due to local or systemic conditions. Approximately 90% of offensive odors are caused by volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). L-cysteine, used as a test solution to control bad breath, induces the formation of VSCs and serves as a preliminary rinse. The study aim was to investigate the effectiveness of L-cysteine solution in differentiating the origin of oral halitosis using a gas chromatography apparatus. Methods: In total, 37 patients with an average age of 49.56 years were evaluated and divided into two groups: halimetry before the use of L-cysteine (
= 37) and halimetry after the use of L-cysteine (
= 37). Patients over 18 years of age, without severe systemic health impairment or infectious/contagious diseases, and who did not use medicines that influenced their breath were included. Halimetry was performed using the OralCroma™ device. In the halimetry before the use of L-cysteine group, 5.40%, 5.40%, and 64.86% of the patients had high levels of sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide, respectively. After the use of L-cysteine, 48.64%, 8.10%, and 37.84% of the patients had high levels of sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide. In this study, L-cysteine proved to be important for the assessment of oral halitosis and effective in differentiating the origin of oral halitosis; therefore, this compound could be used for the differential diagnosis of oral halitosis origin using the OralChroma™ device.