The psychological effects of bad breath on patients

Bad breath has always been something of a taboo subject in society. In a recent survey of 2024 people[1] only 29% of respondents said they would tell someone if they had bad breath, while 71% wanted to be told if they were suffering.

Research in the Netherlands in 2005 revealed that halitosis constituted “one of the 100 biggest human overall exasperations,”[2] and a retrospective study conducted over a seven-year period (February 2003-February 2010) by the University of Basel in Switzerland reports:

“In 83.4% (of subjects) bad breath took its toll on one’s social life, manifested to varying degrees of inhibition, insecurity, isolation, withdrawal, reduced social contact, problems in relationships, less talking by an unwillingness to speak or by keeping a distance to others.”[3]

Bad breath is an emotive topic and may need a considerate and sensitive approach. The implications for a patient may go beyond those of simply addressing a physical problem and move into the realms of their personal and social life with possible psychological effects.

But because of the intensely personal nature of the problem, patients may also be reserved about discussing halitosis, and dentists may find themselves in the position of being unsure of whether their advice will be welcomed or not.

According to a study conducted at La Sapienza University of Rome, “What is said, and especially the way of saying it, may play an important role in patient's acceptance of the information without producing, or reducing to a minimum, the undesirable side effects on the patient-professional relationship, and on the personal dynamics of the patient him/herself.”[4]

In the Basel study “almost every patient (94.5%) tried self-remedies to combat bad breath. These included chewing gum, sweets or mouthwashes which had a masking effect but no influence on the cause of bad breath (Quirynen et al. 2002).”[5] Perhaps this can be taken as an indication that those who do suffer from bad breath, albeit quite shy to openly discuss the problem, will welcome recommendations for effective remedies that they haven’t tried.

Meda Pharmaceuticals product CB12, developed at the University of Oslo, offers this, using a combination of low concentrations of zinc acetate and chlorhexidine to neutralise and prevent the production of Volatile Sulphur Compounds (VSCs), combating bad breath and offering relief for up to 12 hours.[6]

Treatment of, and relief from, bad breath can have implications that extend beyond addressing the physical cause of the problem.  Although a visit to the dentist is unlikely to ever rise to the top of the ‘favourite things to do’ list, it may make an important difference to a patient’s enjoyment of life.

For more information on CB12 and the extensive research behind it,

Please visit www.cb12.co.uk