Halitosis Tongue Coating Cause — NDEB AFK MCQ

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ModeratePeriodontologyHalitosis Tongue Coating CauseNDEB AFK

A patient presents with a chief complaint of bad breath (halitosis). Which of the following is the most common intraoral cause?

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Correct answer: D — Tongue coating (dorsal tongue biofilm) with or without periodontal disease

The dorsal tongue (posterior dorsum) is the most common intraoral source of halitosis, accounting for approximately 80-90% of oral malodour cases. The filiform papillae on the tongue dorsum harbour bacteria that produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs: hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide) from degradation of sulfur-containing amino acids (cysteine, methionine) in food debris and desquamated epithelial cells. Tongue cleaning (scraping/brushing) is the most effective intervention. Periodontal disease is the second most common intraoral cause.

Reference: Newman – Newman and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 13th ed., 2019