BACKGROUND: b-estradiol is a steroid sex hormone that plays important role in oral physiology. The aim of this study was to determin the association of the menstrual cycle and salivary b-estradiol with the production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC).METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, twenty female dental students in good oral and general health were recruited for evaluation of VSC, salivary flow, b-estradiol concentration, oral dryness feeling and dysmenorrhea. Data were analyzed by marginal homogeneity test and xtgee model.RESULTS: The only covariates that significantly related to VSC were being at the follicular phase (B=-0.21, P = 0.02), being at the pre-menstrual phase (B=-0.25, P=0.01), stressfulness (B=0.02, P=0.01) and oral dryness feeling (B=0.34, P=0.02). Salivary ß-estradiol was at the level of 59.7±31.2 in those having halitosis (VSC³75) while in the others (VSC<75) it was about 40.8±18.0 (P<0.009). This difference was not statistically significant in multivariate analysis.CONCLUSIONS: The menstrual cycle, stress and oral dryness were the most important determinants of halitosis. The salivary b-estradiol level could not explain such relationship as its effect was eliminated considering the other factors.