{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:17:35Z","timestamp":1760059055416,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,19]],"date-time":"2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747612800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background and Objectives: Halitosis is a persistent oral health issue that can undermine self-esteem and social interactions, particularly in younger populations who may be more vulnerable to peer judgment. Orthodontic retainers\u2014both removable and fixed\u2014can alter oral microbiota and salivary parameters, potentially influencing malodor development. This study aimed to compare halitosis severity and oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in adolescents and young adults (aged 12\u201325) wearing removable retainers, fixed retainers, or no orthodontic appliances, with an additional focus on salivary pH as a possible modifying factor. Methods: A total of 88 participants were allocated into three groups: removable retainer (n = 28), fixed retainer (n = 30), and no orthodontic treatment (n = 30). Halitosis severity was measured via organoleptic evaluation (0\u20135 scale) and the Halitosis Associated Life-Quality Test (HALT, 0\u2013100). Salivary pH was determined using a digital pH meter. OHRQoL was assessed through the Oral Health Impact Profile\u201314 (OHIP-14, 0\u201356). One-way ANOVA with Tukey\u2019s post hoc test and chi-square analyses were employed to compare outcomes among groups. Spearman\u2019s correlation explored relationships among HALT, organoleptic scores, OHIP-14, and salivary pH. Results: Fixed retainer wearers exhibited higher mean organoleptic scores (2.2 \u00b1 0.6) compared to removable retainer users (1.7 \u00b1 0.5, p = 0.003). HALT results similarly showed that the fixed retainer group (35.6 \u00b1 6.4) reported more halitosis-related burdens than the removable group (31.4 \u00b1 5.9, p = 0.015). Low salivary pH (&lt;6.8) was linked to greater malodor indices in all cohorts (p &lt; 0.05). Correlations revealed moderate positive associations between HALT and OHIP-14 (r = +0.52, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Adolescents and young adults wearing fixed orthodontic retainers reported more severe halitosis and a correspondingly lower oral-health-related quality of life than those with removable retainers or no orthodontic appliances. Salivary pH emerged as an influential factor, indicating that maintaining a neutral oral environment could mitigate malodor. Targeted interventions emphasizing hygiene and saliva management may improve overall well-being in this vulnerable age group.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14103560","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,19]],"date-time":"2025-05-19T11:54:26Z","timestamp":1747655666000},"page":"3560","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Comparative Analysis of Halitosis in Adolescents and Young Adults with Removable Retainers, Fixed Retainers, or No Orthodontic Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Study with Salivary pH Subgroup Analyses"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Magda Mihaela","family":"Luca","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, \u201cVictor Babes\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Roxana","family":"Buzatu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dental Aesthetics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, \u201cVictor Babes\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Revolutiei Boulevard 9, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Bogdan Andrei","family":"Bumbu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.1038\/scientificamerican0402-72","article-title":"The science of bad breath","volume":"286","author":"Rosenberg","year":"2002","journal-title":"Sci. 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