Impact of non-surgical periodontal therapy on self-perceived halitosis, and the senses of smell and taste: a prospective clinical study.

Background: Periodontal diseases could cause halitosis and may impair taste and smell. While non-surgical periodontal therapy is known to reduce halitosis, its effects on taste and smell are less studied. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing self-perceived halitosis, taste, and smell, as well as the changes in these perceptions after periodontal therapy.

Methods: A total of 183 participants were divided into three groups: 61 patients with periodontitis, 61 with gingivitis, and 61 who were gingivally healthy. Periodontal parameters and self-perceived halitosis, taste, and smell were evaluated at baseline and four weeks after non-surgical periodontal treatment using a visual analog scale (VAS). Robust regression analysis was used to assess independent variables influencing baseline VAS ratings.

Results: The periodontitis group had the lowest taste perception and the highest self-perceived halitosis scores (p < 0.05). Taste perception was negatively associated with ≥ 4 mm pockets (p = 0.002). A positive relationship was also observed between the plaque index and self-perceived halitosis (p = 0.030). Post-treatment, taste perception improved significantly in all groups (p < 0.05), in parallel with improvements in periodontal parameters. Additionally, self-perceived halitosis showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05). The improvement in smell perception was statistically significant in the gingivally healthy and periodontitis groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Periodontal disease may contribute to the development of chemosensory disorders. While the main goal of periodontal treatment is disease management, it can also improve taste and smell function. Oral hygiene practices play an essential role in the development of these improvements. However, further research is needed on the subject.

Trial registration: The study was registered as "Investigation of Halitosis, Taste, and Smell in Terms of Periodontal Condition Stated by Patients and Periodontal Diagnosis by Dentists, and Then Evaluation of Change Before and After Treatment" with the registration number NCT06063460 (13/09/2023) at https://www.

Clinicaltrials: gov Protocol Registration and Results System.

Clinical trial registration: This clinical trial was registered prior to participant recruitment on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06063460,13.09.2023).