Quantifying the ice test in halitosis patients

Abstract

ObjectivesOdor is in the oral air when halitosis occurs orally. Because oral gases shrink when cooled, oral halitosis disappears when a piece of ice is placed in the patient's mouth. This physical phenomenon provides a basis for distinguishing oral from non‐oral halitosis but has yet to be quantified.Material and methodsThe records of 29 halitosis patients were retrospectively analyzed. Gas concentrations were measured with a portable gas detector (IBRID‐MX6) before and after cooling the mouth with 1 × 1 × 2 cm ice for 30 s. Patients were asked to rate their halitosis. Tongue temperature and oral gas concentrations were compared with paired t‐tests and one‐way ANOVA.ResultsThe tongue cooled by an average of 13.09°C with ice (from 36.0 to 22.4°C). The mean values of the concentrations of VOC, NH3, H2S, and H2 decreased proportionally with cooling: 74.10%, 77.51%, 81.26%, and 96.12%, respectively. The self‐reported halitosis score decreased from 4 to 0 (n = 29, p < 0001).ConclusionsIt can be concluded that the ice test suppresses oral gases in sufficient quantity to detect oral halitosis.