Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between halitosis and helicobacter pylori infection in stomach. Methods 226 subjects without periodontal diseases or systematic disease (except helicobacter pylori infection) were included. Nasal measurement method was used to divide the participants into the halitosis group (case group) and the nonhalitosis group (control group). Basic information such as gender and age and oral health situation was matched between groups with no statistical difference. Halitosis was diagnosed by OS≥2 and VSC≥110 μg/L respectively. Infection of helicobacter pylori was diagnosed by biopsy. Clinical examination (including malodour test and oral examination) and questionnaire survey were conducted before gastroscopy. SPSS19.0 software package was used to analyze the data. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between halitosis and helicobacter pylori infection. Results All the subjects were periodontally healthy according to the periodontal index, with 117 in the case group and 109 in the control group. The prevalence of helicobacter pylori infection in halitosis subjects diagnosed by OS≥2 was significantly higher than that in the normal subjects (60.7% vs 22.9%, P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed helicobacter pylori infection was the significant variable in the equation, and the adjusted OR was 4.6 (P<0.05). When diagnosed by VSC≥110 μg/L, adjusted OR was 9.3. Conclusion Helicobacter pylori infection in stomach may be involved in the presence of halitosis in periodontally healthy subjects. Further large scale sample prospective studies should be done.

Key words: halitosis, helicobacter pylori, casecontrol study