Halitosis can be treated with photodynamic therapy, study reveals

Mouth breathing dries up the saliva, reducing its antibacterial and cleansing effects, so that halitosis is likely to worsen as a result. Halitosis may reflect local or systemic conditions such as gingivitis, periodontal disease, diabetic acidosis, hepatic failure or respiratory infection.

An article on the study is published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The study

The researchers selected 52 mouth-breathing children aged six to 12 with a diagnosis of halitosis, confirmed using a halimeter.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) consists of the administration of a photosensitiser combined with a light source at a specific wavelength, and oxygen. The procedure generates reactive oxygen species that induce bacterial cell death. Although the study only involved children, the method can treat halitosis in people of any age.