Gum treatment may clear up more than bad breath – study links oral health to smell
NCT ID NCT07424300
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at 101 adults with gum disease and bad breath to see if treating the gums could also improve their sense of smell. Participants received standard deep-cleaning dental treatment. Researchers measured bad breath gases and smell function before and one week after treatment. The goal was to understand if reducing gum inflammation and bad breath is linked to better smelling ability.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- nonsurgical periodontal therapy (scaling and root planing)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that treating gum disease improves both bad breath and sense of smell, pointing to a connection between oral health and olfactory function.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed observational study, not a treatment trial. Results may not apply to everyone, and any changes in smell could be due to other factors.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
-
101 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Dec 2024
- Finished
-
Mar 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
The study population consisted of adults aged 18-55 years diagnosed with generalized periodontitis and presenting with complaints of halitosis who sought care at the Batman University Faculty of Dentistry Clinical Application Center. A total of 150 patients were screened, and 101 individuals who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this prospective cohort study.
- Ages
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18 to 55 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18-55 years * Diagnosis of generalized periodontitis * Complaint of halitosis * At least 15 natural teeth Exclusion Criteria: * Self-reported smell loss or change within 2 weeks prior to baseline * Antibiotic or anti-inflammatory drug use for more than 7 days within the previous 6 weeks * Presence of upper respiratory tract infection * Unrestored advanced dental caries * History of COVID-19 infection * Pregnancy Smoking was not an exclusion criterion.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Batman University
Merkez, Batman, 72040, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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