Halitosis And Its Associated Factors Among Kermanshah High School Students (2015)

Parental Perception of Oral Halitosis in Their Children and Its Effect on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose

Halitosis, or oral malodor, is an oral condition characterized by unpleasant smells that exceed socially acceptable limits. Oral malodor is quite a frequent condition in the pediatric population. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the impact of oral halitosis on oral health-related quality of life among children and adolescents based on parental perception in Saudi Arabia.

Patients and Methods

This study was conducted among parents or caregivers of children and adolescents aged 5-14 in Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire link, provided in Arabic and English, was disseminated via different social media platforms targeting the eligible parents/caregivers of children visiting dental clinics. Subsequently, participants were recruited for this research using the snowball sampling approach. The questionnaire comprised of three sections: socio-economic information, parental perception of oral halitosis in their children, and oral health-related quality of life. The Child Oral Health Quality of Life Questionnaire (COHQoL) evaluated the children's oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). A Chi-square test, binary logistic regression analysis, and Spearman correlation tests were applied to determine the relationship between different variables and halitosis.

Results

A total of 1416 parents participated in this study. The prevalence of parental-perceived halitosis in their children was 74.1% (n=1049). A total of 563 (53.7%) male children and 486 (46.3%) female children were reported unpleasant breath odor without any significant difference (X2=0.200, df=1, p=0.654). A significant negative correlations were observed between halitosis and oral symptoms (r=- 0.214, P <0.001), emotions (r= -0.152, p<0.001), Family environment (r=-0.178, p<0.001), and overall OHRQoL of the children (r=-0.198, p<0.001).

Conclusion

The parent perceived prevalence of oral halitosis among children aged 8.04±3.5 years was very high in Saudi Arabia. The presence of oral halitosis among children and adolescents negatively impacted OHRQoL. Age, nationality, fathers' education and occupation were the significant predictors of OHRQoL among children.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices among patients with periodontal disease toward disease management

Introduction

Periodontal disease is a common chronic inflammatory condition that affects oral health and carries broader public health implications. This study aimed to assess the levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among patients with periodontal disease toward disease management.

Methods

This cross-sectional web-based study was conducted between March 2022 and March 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was designed to evaluate KAP toward disease management.

Results

A total of 514 questionnaires were collected. Among the patients, 313 (60.89%) of them were female, 309 (60.12%) resided in urban areas and 130 (25.29%) reported having severe periodontal disease. The mean scores of knowledge, attitudes and practices were 3.05 ± 2.03 (possible range: 0-8), 18.71 ± 3.64 (possible range: 6-30), and 14.85 ± 3.63 (possible range: 5-25), respectively. The knowledge item with highest correctness rate was the link between periodontal disease and systemic health (60.70%), while the lowest correctness rate was seen for understanding disease classification (36.96%). Pearson's analysis revealed positive correlations between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.31, p < 0.001), knowledge and practices (r = 0.23, p < 0.001) attitudes, as well as attitudes and practices (r = 0.17, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that knowledge (OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.14-1.49, p < 0.001), age ≥ 33 years old (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.18-0.62, p = 0.001), housewife/househusband (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.17-0.95, p = 0.037) and student (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.20-0.92, p = 0.029) were independently associated with practices.

Conclusion

Patients with periodontal disease had insufficient knowledge, negative attitudes, and passive practices toward disease management. Further efforts could be directed toward enhancing patient education on periodontal disease to improve knowledge, thereby positively influencing attitudes and disease management practices.

Factors associated with halitosis reported by parents/caregivers in individuals with Down syndrome

AIMS

Data on halitosis among individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are scarce. The aim was to evaluate factors associated with the occurrence of halitosis reported by parents/caregivers (P/Cs) in individuals with DS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in non-governmental assistance institutions in the State of Minas Gerais-Brazil. P/Cs have answered an electronic questionnaire with sociodemographic, behavioral and oral health data. Factors associated with halitosis were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression. The sample comprised 227 P/Cs (age 48.8 ± 13.2 years; 82.9% mothers) of individuals with DS (age 20.8 ± 13.5 years). The prevalence of halitosis in the total sample was 34.4% (n = 78) and its occurrence was associated: 1) in individuals with DS ≤18 years old (26.2%; n = 27)-negative perception of oral health (OR = 3.91); 2) in individuals with DS > 18 years (41.1%; n = 51)-gingival bleeding (OR = 4.53), absence of tongue brushing (OR = 4.50), negative perception of oral health (OR = 2.72).

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of halitosis in individuals with DS reported by P/Cs was relevant and associated with dental factors, having a negative impact on the perception of oral health. Oral hygiene practices, especially tongue brushing, should be reinforced to prevent and control halitosis.

Adolescence, Adulthood and Self-Perceived Halitosis: A Role of Psychological Factors

(1) Background: Halitosis is a frequent condition that affects a large part of the population. It is considered a "social stigma", as it can determine a number of psychological and relationship consequences that affect people's lives. The purpose of this review is to examine the role of psychological factors in the condition of self-perceived halitosis in adolescent subjects and adulthood. (2) Type of studies reviewed: We conducted, by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, systematic research of the literature on PubMed and Scholar. The key terms used were halitosis, halitosis self-perception, psychological factors, breath odor and two terms related to socio-relational consequences ("Halitosis and Social Relationship" OR "Social Issue of Halitosis"). Initial research identified 3008 articles. As a result of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the number of publications was reduced to 38. (3) Results: According to the literature examined, halitosis is a condition that is rarely self-perceived. In general, women have a greater ability to recognize it than men. Several factors can affect the perception of the dental condition, such as socioeconomic status, emotional state and body image. (4) Conclusion and practical implication: Self-perceived halitosis could have a significant impact on the patient's quality of life. Among the most frequent consequences are found anxiety, reduced levels of self-esteem, misinterpretation of other people's attitudes and embarrassment and relational discomfort that often result in social isolation.

The Prevalence and Determinant Factors of Oral Halitosis in Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Oral halitosis, unpleasant or offensive odor to others, has become a major health concern among the general population, ranking the third most common reason for seeking a dentist behind dental caries and periodontal disease. Even though there have been repeated cases of halitosis in Ethiopia, there is no documented evidence.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of halitosis in Northwest Ethiopia and to examine the relationship between halitosis and sociodemographic factors, oral habits, and health practices.

METHODS

From December 2019 to March 30, 2020, a hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A systematic random sampling method was used to select study participants. Following informed consent, sociodemographic characteristics were collected using structured questionnaires, and two qualified dental surgeons performed the oral examination. The organoleptic test was used to assess the presence of halitosis.

RESULTS

Six hundred sixty-one people took part in the study, with a mean age of 30.0 ±14.76 years. The prevalence of oral halitosis was 44.2% (95% CI: 40.39-47.96) among the study participants. Participants with no formal education were more prone to oral halitosis. Oral halitosis was common in students (18.5%), low-income individuals (22.2%), rural residents (12.3%), mouth breathers (19.1%), and participants with poor oral hygiene practices (15.3%). Independent factors of halitosis included rural residency (AOR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.67), low economic status (AOR=1.81, 95% CI: 1.06,3.09), poor tooth brushing habit (AOR=1.85 (1.31, 2.61), smoking (AOR=2.69 (1.39, 5.21) and dental caries (AOR=8.74 (5.57, 13.71).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of oral halitosis was 44.2% among the study participants. Rural residency, low monthly income, poor tooth-brushing habit, smoking, and dental caries were independent factors of halitosis.

Relationship between Insufficient Sleep and Bad Breath in Korean Adolescent Population

This cross-sectional study sought to evaluate the association between insufficient sleep and bad breath among Korean adolescent population. It was based on the 13th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2017). From 64,991 participants (aged 13-18 years), the final participation rate in the survey was 95.8% (62,276 participants; 31,624 boys and 30,652 girls). A complex sample logistic regression was performed to identify the relationship between insufficient sleep and halitosis, after adjusting for all covariates. In Model II for estimating the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for general characteristics, students who answered "not at all sufficient", indicating insufficient sleep, were at higher risk of bad breath than those who answered "completely sufficient" (AOR = 2.09, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.91-2.30). In Model III, for estimating the AOR adjusted for all covariates, students who answered "not at all sufficient", indicating insufficient sleep, were at higher risk of bad breath than those who answered "completely sufficient" (AOR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.33-1.83). It is necessary for families and schools to have health education lessons that recognize insufficient sleep among adolescents may be a cause of bad breath and therefore optimal sleeping habits and oral health behaviors should be promoted.