Abstract
Objective: To assess the self-perception of halitosis among general population of Karachi along with the oral hygiene methods used. Secondly, the self-perception of halitosis was compared with predictor variables such as age, gender, level of education, and occupation. Study design and setting: Cross-sectional survey; a total of 401 participants of Karachi were recruited in September 2020, Pakistan. Methodology: Using Google Forms, an online questionnaire was developed and consisted of 27 questions regarding demographics and self-perceived halitosis, which was filled by the participants. For the statistical analysis, a multiple linear regression test was used to analyze any significant relation between predictor variables and self-perceived halitosis. Results: Out of the 401 participants, 168 (41.9%) were males and 233 (58.1%) were females. A total of 184 (45.9%) participants suffered from halitosis, with more prevalence in males. Mostly, 251 (62.6%) participants perceived to have halitosis themselves, with tooth brushing the most common (44.9%) way to reduce it. About 340 (84.8%) respondents brushed daily, with twice a day selected by 250 (62.3%). The coated tongue was seen by 124 (30.9%) of participants themselves. Age was found to be significantly associated with self-perceived halitosis. Conclusion: Halitosis is a frequent problem most prevalent in male gender. It has medical and psychosocial impact. Although in general, people are aware of perceiving bad breath themselves, there is still a need for public awareness campaigns to disseminate more knowledge and management options regarding halitosis. Frequent visits to dental and medical healthcare professionals should be encouraged to mitigate this problem.
Published Version
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