Resumen

VELASQUEZ GIMON, María Eugenia  y  GONZALEZ BLANCO, Olga. The halitosis. Definition, classification and etiologic factors. Acta odontol. venez [online]. 2006, vol.44, n.2, pp.240-244. ISSN 0001-6365.

Halitosis is the term used to describe the unpleasant product of physiologic or pathological factors, of buccal or systemic origin. It has been classified in three categories: true halitosis, pseudohalitosis and halitofobia. The true halitosis is classified in physiologic halitosis and pathological halitosis, this last one, in turn, is classified, according to their origin, in buccal and extrabucal. The etiologic factors are described through the relationship among the pathogen one, the guest and the basis. The main cause of this condition is the rot of bases proteicos, mainly, on the part of the microorganism gramnegativos. This generates compound sulfuric volatile that constitutes the most fetid components in the halitosis. At the moment, it is believed that the volatile sulfuric compounds are responsible for the halitosis. There is evidence that demonstrates that the volatile sulfuric compounds are highly toxic for the tissues, still in low concentrations. The alteration of the guest tissues favors the establishment of a vicious circle that perpetuates the problem.

Palabras clave : Halitosis; Genuine halitosis; Pseudo-halitosis; Halitophobia; Volatile Sulfur Compounds.