Research has indicated that hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, other thiols, and dimethyl sulfide, collectively referred to as volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), are the principal malodorants in chronic halitosis. These compounds are generated by anaerobic bacteria, located principally on the back of the tongue. The American Dental Association confirms that millions of people suffer from this condition in the United States alone.
Chronic halitosis is to be distinguished from the short-term variety that most people experience after eating odoriferous foods.
Although sophisticated and expensive instrumentation methods have occasionally been employed to determine VSC, Interscan`s Halimeter® is the first unit specifically designed to measure VSC in a clinical setting. Accurate measurements of VSC form the basis of diagnosis and treatment of chronic halitosis.
Prior to its acceptance as a tool by dental practitioners, the Halimeter® was used as a measuring device in dental research studies. Correlating well with organoleptic assessments (evaluations by a panel of odor judges), the Halimeter® enables measurements of bad breath to be quantified in parts per billion (ppb).
Click here for the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) status of the Halimeter®.
The Halimeter® is intended to be utilized as part of a total program, encompassing a thorough history and physical examination of the patient. Our Experts' Forum features many useful articles on diagnosis and treatment modalities, including excellent clinical charts.
The emotional involvement of many patients with chronic halitosis, as well as the possibility that underlying conditions may be present, require that the practitioner follow a well-established diagnosis/treatment protocol.
The Halimeter® has found its greatest acceptance as a result of the recognition that chronic halitosis is nearly always a dental problem. Complementing this is the availability of special formulation mouthwashes and tongue cleaners which remove the VSC`s and may also kill the offending bacteria.
In just a few short years the Halimeter® has become the premier instrument for chronic halitosis research, diagnosis, and therapy. Used by over 3,000 dentists in private practice and academia, the Halimeter® offers greatly enhanced patient outcomes, as well as profitable opportunities, in the treatment of oral malodor.
