Effect of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of halitosis in adolescents – a controlled, microbiological, clinical trial

Halitosis can exert a negative influence on the social relations of adolescents and affect one's self-image. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) on halitosis in adolescents. Forty-six individuals aged 12 to 19 years were randomly allocated: Group 1 – treatment with photodynamic therapy; Group 2 – treatment with a tongue scraper and Group 3 – treatment with a tongue scraper and photodynamic therapy. The count of bacterial colony-forming units per milliliter was used for the microbiological analysis. Statistical analysis involved the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by the Student–Newman–Keuls test. ANOVA was used for the determination of colony-forming units after treatment. The level of significance for all statistical tests was 5% (p < 0.05). After treatment, a statistically significant reduction in total volatile sulfur compounds was found in all groups (p < 0.001), with the largest reduction (median: 0) found in Group 3 (tongue scraper and photodynamic therapy). Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found between treatment with aPDT and a tongue scraper alone (p < 0.001). The present findings demonstrate an option for the treatment of halitosis in adolescents, with an immediate effect and without the mechanical aggression to the toungue. (Figure presented.) Clinical Trials: NCT02007993.