The relationship between three methods to assess oral malodor

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between organoleptic method, portable sulfide detector (HalimeterTM) and a new developed portable gas chromatoghraphy (OralChromaTM). Methods: The organoleptic test was performed by two experienced examiners in fifty-five systemic healthy subjects. The three VSCs were evaluated by OralChromaTM and the total VSCs were examined by HalimeterTM. Results: The concentration of hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and total VSCs measured by OralChromaTM were significantly related to the organoleptic scores with the correlational coefficients of 0.486, 0.529 and 0.491 respectively (P<0.001).There was no statistically significant relationship between the dimethyl sulfide values and the organoleptic scores. The VSCs values measured by HalimeterTM were significantly related to the concentration of hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and total VSCs measured by OralChromaTM with the correlational coefficients of 0.458, 0.522 and 0.436 respectively (P<0.001). Conclusions: The OralChromaTM correlated well with organoleptic scores and HalimeterTM for hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and total VSCs, though not dimethyl sulfide. The OralChromaTM may be useful for clinical evaluation of halitosis.