Exams

Halimetry & Sialometry

Halitosis Diagnosis

Precision Diagnosis

Halimetry objectively quantifies the volatile sulfur compounds that cause halitosis, with differential diagnosis between oral, digestive and systemic causes.

Sialometry evaluates salivary flow, essential in investigating xerostomia and its relationship with halitosis and systemic conditions.

Indications for the exam

Persistent halitosis with no identified oral cause

Objective evaluation before and after treatment

Suspected halitosis of digestive or systemic origin

Screening for associated xerostomia

How to prepare

Download Prep Guide (PDF)

🍽️

3h before

Eating

Do not eat in the 3 hours before the exam. Meals alter the composition of exhaled air.

🦷

2h before

Oral Hygiene

Do not brush your teeth in the 2 hours before. Do not use mouthwash, spray or any oral product on the day.

🚭

2h before

No Smoking

Do not smoke in the 2 hours before the exam. Cigarettes directly interfere with gas measurement.

🌸

No Perfume

Do not wear perfume or strongly scented deodorant on the day, as they may interfere with the halimeter reading.

💧

Hydration

Drinking water normally is allowed and recommended for sialometry.

Frequently asked questions

What is halimetry?+

It’s an exam that objectively measures, in parts per billion, the volatile sulfur compounds present in exhaled breath, the main cause of bad breath.

What is sialometry?+

It’s the measurement of salivary flow at rest and stimulated, used to identify dry mouth (xerostomia) as a possible cause or aggravating factor of halitosis.

Do halimetry and sialometry hurt?+

No. They are simple, quick and painless exams, performed with a specific device called a halimeter.

How long do the exams take?+

Halimetry and sialometry together take about 30 minutes.

Does halitosis always originate in the mouth?+

No. Halitosis can have a digestive (reflux, SIBO), nasopharyngeal or systemic origin. That’s why the NU.V.E.M protocol investigates every possible cause together.