Case scenario

Ms Casey Garner, aged 35, comes into your pharmacy and hesitantly asks you for lozenges
or a mouthwash ‘that will work’. You notice her shy disposition and ask if she would like to discuss this with you in the consultation area. She explains that recently she has noticed people are more reluctant to stand close to her, especially in small meeting rooms at work. She thinks she has bad breath and her husband has also suggested this. You gather some background information on her bad breath and medical history – she has high blood pressure, controlled by amlodipine, and is otherwise healthy with no history of adverse drug reactions or allergies.

Learning objectives

After successful completion of this CPD activity, pharmacists should be able to:

  • Discuss potential causes of halitosis
  • Describe the management of halitosis
  • Identify situations where referral to an oral health specialist may be appropriate for people with halitosis.

Competency standards (2016) addressed: 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 3.1, 3.5

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Introduction

Halitosis (bad breath) is an unpleasant and often offensive odour that originates from the oral cavity.1 It is described as a malodour that is beyond a level that is socially acceptable.2 The exact prevalence is unknown, however it is believed to vary between 2% and 87% among different populations. The wid

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