Abstract
Objective: To contextualize the main causes and psychosocial consequences of halitosis and to transmit the importance of correct diagnosis by the dental surgeon to direct the patient of the pathology to the most appropriate treatment. Methods: This is a literature review where articles published in journals or in electronic databases (PubMed Mesh, CAPES, EBSCO, DeCS and Google Scholar) were analyzed and bibliographic books using the following descriptors: bacteria anaerobic, diagnostic etiology, halitosis and oral hygiene. Results: Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, is a very frequent multifactorial condition in the population that signals the presence of an imbalance in the body that needs to be diagnosed and treated. Its most common etiology is poor oral hygiene and alteration of salivary patterns but may be related to pathologies associated with the digestive or respiratory system and systemic factors, such as diabetes. Surprisingly, this issue has been neglected by professionals from different health areas, aiming only at the dental surgeon as the main responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of halitosis. Conclusion: It is fundamental and essential that both the dental surgeon and other health professionals inform and be apt about the multifactorial provenance of halitosis, to provide the correct diagnosis and to direct the patient to an appropriate treatment for a successful prognosis.