Self-Perception of Halitosis and the Halitosis-Related Factors for High School Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate self-perception of halitosis among high school students, identify halitosis-related factors, and provide basic data that could help develop a plan to prevent halitosis and remove it efficiently. A survey on subjective self-perception of halitosis, the intra- and extra-oral factors, and the oral hygienic management behavior factors was conducted in a total of 458 high school students from June to August 2012, drawing the following conclusion: 1. 49.7% of the boys had self-perception of halitosis sometimes and 55.9% of the girls had none of it, showing significant differences (p<0.05). Both the boys and the girls were more likely to feel halitosis right after getting up and to be willing to get treatment when appropriate, showing significant differences (p<0.05). 2. Those who often felt their mouth dry, who had their tongue coated, and who drank were more likely to have self-perception of halitosis frequently than to have none of it, showing significant differences (p<0.05). 3. Self-perception of halitosis was negatively correlated with toothbrushing frequency and time (p<0.01) and was positively correlated with drinking and oral disease (p<0.05). To put the results together, the boys tended to have self-perception of halitosis sometimes while the girls were more likely to have none of it; both of them were most likely to feel halitosis right after getting up. Self-perception of halitosis increased with the dry mouth, the coated tongue, and drinking and decreased with toothbrushing frequency and time. It is therefore necessary to provide oral health education at school to systematize oral health management programs with the objective of relieving and preventing halitosis among high school students.