Frequency of halitosis among patients aged between 18 to 40 years reporting to Saidu group of teaching hospital, KPK, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Oral health is associated with first-class teeth as it is essential for the general health and wellness of human beings. Poor oral hygiene leads to major issues including halitosis. Halitosis refers to an unpleasant breath odor that affects self-confidence and people’s professional and social life. Objective: The main of the current study was to uncover the frequency of halitosis among 18 to 40 years aged patients reporting to Saidu groups of teaching hospitals, swat KPK. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the Frequency of halitosis among the patients in 6 months. Data was collected using a questionnaire and convenience sampling technique. Results: Out of 288 patients, 156 (54.2%) patients were affected while the rest 132 (45.8%) patients were not affected by halitosis. It was found more among males than females. The highly associated risk factors were smoking, patients having no knowledge of tooth cleansing protocol, interdental brush, not brushing their tongue, no use of mouthwash, and lack of monthly dentist visits. Conclusion: More than half of the population are suffering from halitosis where males are highly affected as compared to females. Patients having poor knowledge of teeth cleaning protocol and infrequent dental visits were among the more common causes of halitosis among the said age population.