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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06890104

Effects of Mechanical, Chemical, and Combination Methods on Halitosis

Goal:

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of different oral hygiene methods (tooth brushing, tongue cleaning, and mouthwash use) in managing halitosis (bad breath) in adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Do oral hygiene methods (tongue cleaning, chlorhexidine mouthwash, and coconut oil mouthwash) reduce the levels of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in participants' breath?

Do these methods improve self-reported and clinically assessed halitosis?

Study Design:

Researchers will compare three intervention groups:

Group I: Tongue cleaning. Group II: Chlorhexidine mouthwash. Group III: Coconut oil mouthwash.

After one week, Groups II and III will add tongue cleaning, and in the third week, Groups I and III will use chlorhexidine mouthwash to ensure equitable benefits.

Participants will:

Follow their assigned oral hygiene regimen daily for 2 weeks. Receive the halitosis assessments at baseline, 1 week, and 2 weeks post-intervention, including organoleptic testing and volatile sulfur compounds level measurements using the OralChroma device.

Complete self-reported assessments of halitosis using a visual analog scale (VAS).

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Key information

Conditions

Halitosis Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms, Digestive

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Huế, Vietnam

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age: Participants must be 18 years or older.
  • Diagnosis of Halitosis:
  • Clinically diagnosed halitosis with an Organoleptic Test (OT) score ≥ 2, AND
  • Volatile sulfur compound (VSC) levels exceeding:

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) > 1.5 ng/10 ml, OR Methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) > 0.5 ng/10 ml.

  • Study Population: Buddhist monks and nuns from selected temples in Hue City, Vietnam, to control for dietary and lifestyle factors.
  • Willingness to Participate: Participants must provide informed consent and agree to follow the study protocol.

Exclusion criteria

  • Systemic Diseases: Presence of systemic conditions such as diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory disorders, or cancer that could contribute to halitosis.
  • Nonoral Causes of Halitosis:Halitosis suspected or confirmed to be caused by gastrointestinal or respiratory diseases.
  • Medication Use: Use of antibiotics or other medications within 1 month prior to or during the study period.
  • Dental Conditions:
  • Presence of dental prostheses or orthodontic appliances.
  • Untreated open caries lesions or deep periodontal pockets (> 6 mm).
  • Allergies: Known allergies to any of the study interventions (e.g., chlorhexidine or coconut oil).
  • Lifestyle Factors: Smoking or betel nut chewing habits.
  • Inability to Comply: Inability or unwillingness to follow the study protocol or attend follow-up visits.

Treatment and study plan

Mouthrinse with Coconut oil pulling

Other

Using mouth rinse with coconut oil for two weeks to treat halitosis

Mouthrinse with Chlorhexidine 0.12%

Other

Using mouthrinse with 0.12% chlorhexidine for two weeks to treat halitosis

Primary outcomes

  1. Reduction in Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs) Levels

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week post-intervention, and 2 weeks post-intervention.

    Measurement of VSC levels (hydrogen sulfide [H2S] and methyl mercaptan [CH3SH]) in participants' breath using the OralChroma device. Lower VSC levels indicate improved halitosis control.

  2. Improvement in Organoleptic Test (OT) Scores

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week post-intervention, and 2 weeks post-intervention.

    Clinical assessment of halitosis severity using the Organoleptic Test, where a trained examiner scores breath odor on a scale of 0 (no odor) to 5 (extremely strong odor). A reduction in OT scores indicates improvement in halitosis.

  3. Improvement in Self-Reported Halitosis Severity

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week post-intervention, and 2 weeks post-intervention.

    Participants' self-assessment of halitosis severity using a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no bad breath) to 100 (very severe bad breath). Lower scores indicate improved self-perceived halitosis.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effectiveness of Mechanical and Chemical Measures in Controlling Halitosis in the Buddhist Monastic Populations

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Mar 21, 2025
Registry last updated
Mar 21, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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