Trends and hotspots in global halitosis research: A bibliometric analysis from 2010 to 2025.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to utilize bibliometric methods to examine the global English-language literature on halitosis, with the goal of identifying research hotspots and suggesting potential future research directions in this field. METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed was conducted for literature related to halitosis, spanning from January 2010 to July 2025. Bibliometric analysis was performed using the Medpulse database and the R software package bibliometrix, including statistical analysis of literature data, as well as topic and co-occurrence analyses. RESULTS: The analysis included a total of 1634 articles, representing contributions from corresponding authors across 19 countries, with China and the USA leading in publication output. There has been a consistent annual increase in publications related to halitosis. Japanese institutions and authors are particularly active, with their frequent publications contributing to their influence and prominence in this field. Fukuoka Dental College emerged as the institution with the highest number of publications. The majority of these articles are published in journals dedicated to oral health. Key topics of study include halitosis, oral health, oral malodor, periodontitis, probiotics, oral hygiene, volatile sulfur compounds, periodontal disease, and quality of life, etc. Thematic evolution analysis indicates that oral diseases and research involving children remain promising areas for future investigation. CONCLUSION: Bibliometric analysis indicates that the diagnosis and treatment of halitosis, along with research focused on pediatric populations and multidisciplinary approaches, have emerged as recent research hotspots and directions in the field.