Sains Malaysiana 55(4)(2026): 669-678

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5504-07

 

Menilai Hubungan antara Lapisan Permukaan Lidah dan Halitosis menggunakan Pemantau Sulfur Mudah Alih dalam Kalangan Pesakit Periodontitis

(Assessing the Relationship between Tongue Surface Layer and Halitosis using a Portable Sulfur Monitor among Periodontitis Patients)

 

NIK MADIHAH NIK AZIS*, SZE MIN NG, ALICE CHAU JIA HUI, HASLINA RANI & BADIAH BAHARIN

 

Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jln Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Received: 22 July 2025/Accepted: 30 March 2026

 

Abstrak

Bau mulut atau halitosis, menjejaskan kualiti hidup dan boleh menyebabkan tekanan psikologi. Walaupun kaedah penilaian merangkumi ujian organoleptik subjektif hingga peranti objektif, pemantau sulfur mudah alih menawarkan pendekatan yang praktikal untuk penilaian klinikal. Penyelidikan ini mengkaji hubungan antara tahap sebatian sulfur meruap (VSC) yang diukur menggunakan pemantau sulfur mudah alih Breath Alert™ dan lapisan permukaan lidah dalam kalangan pesakit periodontitis. Hubungan dengan tingkah laku kebersihan mulut yang dilaporkan sendiri, halitosis yang dirasai sendiri dan tabiat pemakanan turut dianalisis. Seramai 64 peserta telah dinilai menggunakan peranti Breath Alert™ dan Indeks Lapisan Permukaan Lidah Winkel yang diubah suai. Halitosis klinikal dikesan dalam 53.1% peserta. Status merokok menunjukkan hubungan yang signifikan dengan halitosis klinikal (p = 0.041), manakala faktor sosiodemografi dan parameter kesihatan mulut lain tidak menunjukkan hubungan yang ketara. Peserta dengan halitosis menunjukkan tahap lapisan permukaan lidah yang lebih tinggi secara signifikan (p = 0.010) dengan lapisan permukaan lidah berkorelasi positif dengan keterukan halitosis (r = 0.288, p = 0.021). Penggunaan berus interdental secara berkala dikaitkan dengan prevalens halitosis yang lebih rendah (p = 0.024) manakala pengambilan kopi dikaitkan dengan peningkatan tahap lapisan permukaan lidah (p = 0.049). Tiada tabiat pemakanan atau tingkah laku kebersihan mulut lain yang menunjukkan hubungan signifikan dengan halitosis atau lapisan permukaan lidah. Keputusan ini mengesahkan prevalens halitosis yang tinggi dalam kalangan pesakit periodontitis dan menekankan peranan lapisan permukaan lidah sebagai faktor penyumbang utama. Pemantau sulfur mudah alih berpotensi digunakan sebagai alat tambahan dalam penilaian klinikal, namun kajian lanjut diperlukan bagi mengesahkan kebolehpercayaannya.

Kata kunci: Halitosis; kebersihan mulut; lapisan permukaan lidah; pemantau sulfur mudah alih; sebatian sulfur meruap

Abstract

Oral malodor or halitosis, affects quality of life and may lead to psychological distress. While assessment methods range from subjective organoleptic tests to objective devices, portable sulfur monitors offer a practical approach for clinical evaluation. This study investigated the relationship between volatile sulfur compound (VSC) levels, measured using the Breath Alert™ portable sulfur monitor, and tongue coating in periodontitis patients. Associations with self-reported oral hygiene behaviours, self-perceived halitosis, and dietary habits were also examined. Sixty-four participants were assessed using the Breath Alert™ and a modified Winkel Tongue Coating Index. Clinical halitosis was identified in 53.1% of participants. Smoking status was significantly associated with clinical halitosis (p = 0.041), whereas other sociodemographic and oral health parameters showed no association. Participants with halitosis demonstrated significantly higher tongue coating levels (p = 0.010), and tongue coating was positively correlated with halitosis severity (r = 0.288, p = 0.021). Regular use of interdental brushes was linked to lower halitosis prevalence (p = 0.024), while coffee consumption was associated with increased tongue coating (p = 0.049). No other dietary habits or oral hygiene behaviours were significantly related to halitosis or tongue coating. These findings confirm a high prevalence of halitosis in periodontitis patients and underscore tongue coating as a significant contributing factor. Portable sulfur monitors may serve as useful adjuncts in clinical assessment, though further validation is warranted.

 

Keywords: Halitosis; oral hygiene; portable sulfur monitor; tongue coating; volatile sulfur compounds

 

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*Corresponding author; email: nikmadihah@ukm.edu.my