Assessment of Photodynamic Therapy With Annatto and Led for the Treatment of Halitosis in Mouth-Breathing Children

Assessment of Photodynamic Therapy With Annatto and Led for the Treatment of Halitosis in Mouth-Breathing Children: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) employing an annatto-based (20%) dye combined with blue LED for the treatment of halitosis in mouth-breathing children. Methods: Fifty-two children six to twelve years of age with diagnoses of mouth breathing and halitosis (score of ≥ 3 on Breath Alert® portable breath meter) were randomly allocated to two groups (n = 26). Group 1: brushing, dental floss and aPDT applied to middle third of the dorsum of the tongue. Group 2: brushing, dental floss and tongue scraper. Breath meter results before, immediately after treatment as well as seven and 30 days after treatment were compared. The normality of the data will be determined using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Parametric data will be submitted to analysis of variance and nonparametric data will be compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The results of each treatment in the different periods of the study will be compared using the Wilcoxon test.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of mouth breathing (performed using the calibrated Glatzel mirror test, water retention test and a questionnaire);
• Halitosis presenting a score equal or greater than 2, in the Breath Alert analysis.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Nasal breathers;
• Dentofacial anomalies (such as cleft lip, cleft palate and nasopalatine);
• Undergoing orthodontic and/or orthopedic treatment;
• Undergoing cancer treatment;
• Systemic alterations (gastrointestinal, renal, hepatic);
• Under antibiotic treatment for up to 1 month before the research;
• Fissured or grooved tongue.