Comparison of Clinical Characteristics of Patients between Genuine and Pseudo Halitosis

Abstract

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the difference between genuine and pseudo-halitosis in terms of clinical characteristics.Methods: We recruited 51 halitosis patients who visited the halitosis clinic at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from March 2020 to March 2022. We classified the halitosis patients into two groups, genuine and pseudo halitosis, based on oral chroma and evaluated the status of hyposalivation using the drainage method, stress levels using heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, and Ryodoraku.Results: Comparing the genuine halitosis group and the pseudo halitosis group, there was no significant difference in the status of hyposalivation and HRV parameters. However, Ryodoraku was significantly different between genuine and pseudo halitosis. Compared to the genuine halitosis group, the pseudo halitosis group showed a significantly higher value of total average (TA) of Ryodoraku.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that there is a significant difference in Ryodoraku between genuine halitosis and pseudo halitosis, so when approaching pseudo halitosis patients, we should consider their excitability of the sympathetic nervous system and metabolic function status.