Oral Malodour Research Articles

Oral health and chronic kidney disease: Findings from a descriptive survey in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem, characterized by a progressive and irreversible decline in renal functions, and affecting up to 22.3% of Nigerians. Oral diseases are increasingly recognized to have a bidirectional relationship with CKD, contributing to systemic inflammation, infections, protein-energy wasting, and atherosclerotic complications. Given this interconnectedness, we aimed to explore the relationship between CKD and oral conditions among LASUTH patients to better understand and address these co-occurring health issues. Methods: This descriptive observational study was conducted in the nephrology unit of LASUTH. Patients aged >20 years with a diagnosis of CKD were enlisted and a validated questionnaire with the modified WHO oral health status proforma was utilized to record clinical data: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (EGFR), End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Creatinine and Urinalysis from medical records and oral examination findings, Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), Gingival Index (GI), Community Periodontal Index of Treatment needs (CPITN), oral malodour, and Oral lesions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted with adjustments for covariates like age, alcohol use, and BMI to determine the association between oral diseases and CKD. The significance level (p) was set at 0.05, with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. Results: A total of 200 patients at different stages of CKD were included. The age range was 22–83 years. The majority were aged 31-60 years (mean age 55.22 ± 14.35 years); 69% were males; 7% were current smokers while 12% currently drank alcohol; 27% had eGFR< 15 mL/min/1.73m2 (ESRD); 27% had Creatinine values >1.3mg/dl; prevalence of Gingivitis was 72%; periodontitis was 14% (CPI score ≥3: Pocket depth of ≥4 mm); and poor OHI was 22%. The commonest oral lesions were white lesions 2%, candidiasis 4.5%, hyperpigmentation 22%, oral ulcers 5%, hemorrhagic lesions 12.5%, and Oral malodor 74.5%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed significantly increased odds of ESRD among uneducated respondents (OR 1.194; CI: 0.832-1.713); those >60years (OR: 1.129; CI:0.436-2.923); current alcohol drinkers (OR:1.125; CI: 0.281-4.409); and smokers (OR:2.328; CI: 0.27-20.289). The odds of low stimulated saliva flow rate (OR: 1.181; CI:0.768-4.512), oral malodor (OR:1.093; CI: 0.763-1.565), and periodontal disease (OR: 1.242; CI: 0.698-2.209) were also significantly higher among those with ESRD. Conclusion: Individuals with CKD and ESRD may have a higher prevalence of oral diseases and conditions. There were significantly increased odds of ESRD among uneducated respondents, those over 60, current alcohol consumers, and smokers. Additionally, the odds of low stimulated saliva flow rate, oral malodor, and periodontal disease was also significantly higher among those with ESRD. This relationship may also be bidirectional, highlighting the need for appropriate oral self-care and regular dental-care utilization in patients with renal disease. The findings underscore the need for integrated healthcare approaches that consider both oral and renal health, providing a foundation for further research and targeted interventions.

A Comprehensive Review on the Role of Herbal Mouth Freshners in the Management of Halitosis

Halitosis is an unpleasant odor in the oral cavity that stimulates poor oral health. The bad odor is a taboo that creates hesitation and embarrassment in society. This is not under the voluntary control of an individual. Various herbal ingredients are found to refresh the bad odor and provide cooling sensations. This review focus on the herbal mouth freshners which are used to treat Halitosis or Oral malodour. The review gives an introductory of mouth Freshners in combating halitosis, the traditional herbal ingredients and their efficiency in mouth Freshners and additional potent benefits such as Antimicrobial, antioxidants, anti- inflammatory, antifungal and wound healing properties were explored. Mouth freshners are found to show an instant therapeutic efficacy in reducing bad odor, giving a refreshment which lasts for some period of time. It has also been more advantageous to use herbal mouth fresheners when compared to artificial or synthetic ones. Understanding the role of mouth Freshners in oral care highlights the overall well-being of the society. Hence, herbal mouth freshners are the major requirement at present to combat the bad odor and to get instant effect which prevents the risk of hesitation, embarrassment, and anxiety with increased oral quality life of the people.

ORAL MALODOUR: AN INDICATOR OF ORAL NEGLECT AND POOR SELF-ESTEEM AMONG SLUM DWELLING CHILDREN IN NIGERIA

Objective: Oral malodour, an inadequately studied disease in children, is the third most prevalent reason for dental consultations, with negative impacts on psychosocial health. This study assessed self-rated and normatively assessed oral malodour and its impact on quality of life among a cohort of slum dwelling children in Lagos, Nigeria. Method: This descriptive survey was conducted among slum dwelling children in Lagos State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling method was utilized to select participants for the study. The Organoleptic test was utilized by two calibrated dentists to assess oral malodour. The Self-Reported Scale for Oral Health (SOHO) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) were used to assess quality of life and self-esteem. Regression analysis was done using sociodemographic, clinical, self-esteem and QOL variables as the predictor variables to identify their strength of association with oral malodour. The probability level of p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Majority of the 427 respondents were aged between 10-14 years of age (67%), and were females (54.4%). Thirty four percent of the respondents self-rated themselves as having oral malodour; Normatively, 22.6% of the respondents had oral malodour. There was a significant association between OHRQOL (aOR: 2.724; CI: 1.563-4.932), gingival inflammation (aOR: 2.402; CI: 1.417-4.078), self-esteem (aOR: 2.546; CI :2.015-5.246), self-rated oral malodour (aOR: 3.846; CI: 2.118-8.571), parental education (aOR: 1.483; CI: 1.034-1.940), history of dental visit (aOR: 8.375; CI: 2.435-28.810), reason for dental visit (aOR: 2.224; CI: 0.932-5.310), and number of children in in the family (aOR: 1.106; CI: 1.010-1.212), with oral malodour. Conclusion: Oral malodour was significantly associated with low self-esteem, poor OHRQOL poor oral health and dental attendance pattern. The oral health of slum dwelling children needs to be seen by policymakers as an important predictor of their mental health and wellbeing.

Knowledge, Self-Perception, Attitude of Halitosis Among Students in Chengalpet: A Questionnaire Study

Aim: To measure self-perception, knowledge, and awareness of halitosis among students studying in Karpaga Vinayaga educational groups Materials and Methods: In this study, total of 240 participants who are students of Karpaga Vinayaga educational group were recruited. A questionnaire was created online using Google Forms, and the link was sent to the participants through different social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Emails. Their responses were recorded. Result: A widespread issue that affects people all over the world, halitosis or bad breath, has social and psychological as well as medical repercussions. There is ample evidence that halitosis is common everywhere in the world. Our study found that the self-perception of poor breath is significantly influenced by age. Most of the respondents in our study did not report to dentist for having bad breath. Instead, they tried to solve by using chewing gums, mouth wash and sweets. This gave us the conclusion that they lack knowledge about the cause and management plan. Conclusion: Oral malodour is generally poorly understood in all of its facets. Therefore, it is important to promote increased public awareness and education. To lessen this issue, regular visits to dentists and other healthcare providers should be promoted. It should be stressed that dentists have a responsibility to educate and advise their patients about oral malodour, and dental students should receive enough training in handling this problem by organising dental camps, lectures should be provided to students so as to improve knowledge about halitosis14 Keywords: Halitosis, Awareness, Self-perception, Bad breath, Oral Malodor

Exploring the Clinical Applications of Lemongrass Essential Oil: A Scoping Review.

Lemongrass is a medicinal plant that produces essential oil with a variety of therapeutic properties. Although lemongrass essential oil (LGEO) is promising in clinical applications, the existing knowledge on the efficacy and safety of LGEO remains limited. This scoping review aimed to identify, summarize, and synthesize existing literature related to the clinical applications of LGEO to provide an overview of its potential therapeutic benefits for patients. Three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) were used following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines to find articles published between 1 January 2013, and 1 November 2022. A total of 671 records were identified and 8 articles were included in this scoping review. The majority of patients received oromucosal and topical treatment. The results of the studies suggest that LGEO might be a useful tool in the treatment of periodontitis, gingivitis and oral malodour, with similar efficacy to chlorhexidine (anti-gingivitis effect) and doxycycline (periodontitis). Additionally, LGEO has the potential for treating pityriasis versicolor and preventing skin aging and may have anti-dandruff effects. These findings not only underscore the diverse clinical potential of LGEO but also emphasize its comparable efficacy to established treatments. Further research is imperative to comprehensively evaluate LGEO's effectiveness, safety, mechanisms of action, potential interactions with other medications, and its long-term tolerability across diverse populations.

LASER - A New Tool for Management of Oral Malodour

LASER - A New Tool for Management of Oral Malodour

Aetiology, diagnosis and management of halitosis – a narrative review

Objectives
 The present study aimed to present an overview of the aetiology of oral malodour and the diagnostic and treatment procedures.
 Design
 A comprehensive review of scientific literature (up to December 2021) was conducted using Medline and PubMed databases and Google Scholar, including checking reference lists of journal articles by hand-searching. Results are presented descriptively for halitosis's aetiology, diagnosis and clinical management.
 Results
 The origin of the foul odour problem is mainly due to intra-oral causes, while only a proportion of cases result from additional systemic problems. In some cases, the problem can be caused by co-existing oral and extraoral problems. Evidence suggests that the leading cause of intra-oral halitosis is the anaerobic microorganisms present in the tongue plaque. Less commonly, the foul odour is due to poor oral hygiene and periodontitis.
 Conclusion
 The origin of the foul odour problem is mainly due to intra-oral causes, while only a proportion of cases result from additional systemic problems. Dentists need to analyse and treat the oral problems that may be responsible for the patient's malodour, as well as inform the patient about the causes of the foul odour and oral hygiene procedures (flossing, tongue cleaning, selection and use of appropriate mouthwash and toothpaste). If the problem persists, they should know whom to refer the patient to for further diagnosis. It is reasonable to organise consultations on halitosis in a multidisciplinary setting - periodontists, otolaryngologists (ENT specialists), internal medicine specialists, gastroenterologists, psychiatrists, psychologists and others.

Oral management of poorly understood Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome – A case report

Rationale: Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS) is a rare genodermatosis with autosomal-recessive genetic inheritanceand has features mainly palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and rapidly progressing severe periodontitis leading to early loss of deciduous and permanent dentition. Patient Concerns: The patient in the presented report was concerned with loose teeth, gingival bleeding and oral malodour and wanted to get missing teeth replaced. Diagnosis: The diagnosis was made based on medical history, clinical and radiological findings. Interventions: Periodontal phase I therapy included extraction of hopeless teeth, manual and ultrasonic scaling, mechanical and chemical plaque control and periodic maintenance. Missing teeth were restored by removable and fixed prosthesis. Dermatological lesions were conservatively managed. Outcomes: A comprehensive treatment stabilised periodontal disease of the patient and prosthetic rehabilitation improved oral health related quality of life of PLS patient. Lessons: PLS patients require an early diagnosis and a team approach for dermatological, periodontal complications and prosthetic rehabilitation.

Assessment of Knowledge about Halitosis and its Management Amongst Fresh Medical Graduates in Lahore, A Survey

Introduction: The origin of halitosis comes from the Latin word "Halitus" meaning 'breath, exhaled air.' Halitosis is an unpleasant odour exhaled in breathing, also known by the name of bad breath. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the level of knowledge of fresh medical graduates and their management skills towards halitosis. Methods & Materials: A questionnaire was designed to collect the required information from the fresh medical graduates. The duration of the study was 6 months January 2020 to June 2020. Study was conducted on fresh medical graduates from private and public sector across Lahore visiting the dental Outpatient Department of Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College Results: The study sample comprised of 59.3% females and 40.7% of males. Astonishing, 71.4% did not treat halitosis amongst patients visiting for treatment whilst 28.6% provided treatment for halitosis. Surprisingly, only 28.6% of medical doctors treated oral malodour. Alarmingly 71% doctor did not treat oral malodour. A whopping 95.2 % blamed poor oral hygiene to the biggest cause of halitosis. Stagnation of food secured 2nd place with 70% followed by chronic periodontal disease at 64.8%. Surprisingly, 0.4% mentioned that eating Garlic/raw food was considered as a least reason for oral malodour. Discussion: Conclusion: Halitosis was prevalent among patients visiting medical doctors for treatment. They can benefit from enhanced understanding and encouragement to improve their own and the patient's oral hygiene because of their responsibilities to diagnose and improve oral health..

Efficacy of 4 Different Mouthwashes in Moderate Gingivitis Patients to Reduce Oral Malodour – A Comparative Study

Efficacy of 4 Different Mouthwashes in Moderate Gingivitis Patients to Reduce Oral Malodour – A Comparative Study

Effectiveness of oral care interventions on malodour in dogs.

BackgroundOral malodour is identified by pet owners as an unpleasant inconvenience, but they may not recognise this likely indicates underlying disease. The primary cause of oral malodour relates to the presence of bacteria in the oral cavity often associated with gingivitis and periodontitis. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of feeding two oral care chews with different textural properties on oral malodour and the proportion of bacterial species involved in the production of volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs).MethodsFourteen dogs (9 Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (PBGV) and 5 Beagle dogs) participated in the randomised cross-over study for a total of 14 weeks. The cohort was divided into four groups with each exposed to a different intervention per week: chew A, chew B, tooth brushing control or a no intervention control. An induced malodour method was used to assess VSCs in breath samples using a portable gas chromatograph (OralChroma™). Microbiological samples (supragingival plaque and tongue coating scrapes) were analysed for VSC-producing bacteria using Oral Hydrogen Sulfide agar with lead acetate.ResultsVSCs were detected in the dogs’ breath samples and levels of hydrogen sulphide and methyl mercaptan were found to be reduced following an intervention. Chew B significantly reduced the levels of both hydrogen sulphide (p < 0.001) and methyl mercaptan (p < 0.05) compared to no intervention. Reductions in methyl mercaptan were also observed for chew A and tooth brushing but these were not statistically significant. When compared to no intervention, all interventions significantly reduced the total bacterial load and VSC producing bacterial load in plaque (p < 0.001). For tongue samples, only chew B significantly reduced the total bacterial load and VSC-producing bacterial load (p < 0.001) compared to no intervention.ConclusionsBy inducing oral malodour and subsequently applying the one-time interventions, significant reductions in the levels of VSCs were observed. The use of oral care chews texturally designed to deliver a deep, all-round cleaning action can be particularly effective at managing oral malodour in dogs, likely through an enhanced ability to remove bacteria.

PERIODONTAL STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH MANDIBULAR FRACTURES

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to assess the gingival and periodontal status of patients with maxillofacial trauma and to determine the need for periodontal treatment after removal of the intramaxillary fixation. Material and methods: The study included 36 patients with a fracture of the lower jaw. After the clinical and radiological examination of the patients, treatment was performed on a case-by-case basis. 30 days after fixation and removal of the wire ligatures of the patients, the oral-hygienic and periodontal status was assessed using the following indices: simplified oral hygiene index, gingival bleeding index, community periodontal index of treatment needs and evaluation of oral malodour. Results: The most common cause of fractures is a traffic accident, followed by domestic injuries. The level of oral hygiene immediately after removal of the wire ligatures and intermaxillary fixation varied between relatively good and poor, with a greater number of patients having poor hygiene (OHI-S ≥5). The periodontal status of the patients, measured by CPITN, also showed a statistically significant level of clinically established periodontal destruction. Halitosis was detected in all patients. Conclusions: The course of the healing process in the alveolar bone and the functional rehabilitation of patients with mandibular fractures depends not only on the type of surgical treatment for immobilization of the fragments but also on the maintenance of optimal oral hygiene.

Application of a protective sleeve is associated with decreased occupational anxiety during endotracheal intubation: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe high risk of cross-infection during tracheal intubation has caused excessive occupational anxiety for anaesthesiologists amid the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Currently, there is no effective way to attenuate their anxiety in clinical practice. We found that anaesthesiologist with better protective equipment might experience decreased levels of anxiety during intubation.MethodsIn this study, 60 patients who underwent intubation and extubation in the operating room were enrolled, and then randomized 1:1 to either wear protective sleeves (protective sleeve group) or not (control group). Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure the anxiety level of anaesthesiologists during intubation. The respiratory droplets of patients on the sleeve, and the anaesthesiologists’ perception including the patient’s oral malodour, exertion, satisfaction degree, waist discomfort and shoulder discomfort were recorded. The patients’ anxiety, oppressed feelings and hypoxia and postoperative complications were all measured and recorded.ResultsCompared with the control group, the anaesthesiologists in protective sleeve group achieved lower anxiety scores and better satisfaction degrees during the process of intubation and extubation (all P < 0.05). Respiratory droplets were observed only on the inner side, but not the external side, of the protective sleeves (P < 0.001). The incidence of the anaesthesiologists’ perception of patients’ oral malodour was significantly lower in the protective sleeve group (P = 0.02) and no patients developed hypoxemia or intubation-related complications in the protective sleeve group.ConclusionUsing protective devices for intubation might eliminate droplet transmission from patients to anaesthesiologists, while also decreasing their anxiety in a controlled operating room environment.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial. no. ChiCTR2000030705. Registry at www.chictr.org.cn on 10/03/2020.

Halitosis: Its Aetiology and Psychosocial Impact- A Hospital Based Study

Introduction Halitosis means bad or unpleasant odour from oral cavity. It causes embarrassment to the patients and affects their social life and communication. This study aims to find the causes of halitosis and to assess its psychosocial impact. Materials and Methods A prospective study was conducted in the department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery in a tertiary care hospital. It included 165 patients, presenting to the ENT OPD with chief complains of oral malodour for at least 3 months. The patients in the age above 15 years and below 75 years, irrespective of gender, were included in the study. Results The age of the patients ranged from 15 to 75 years with a mean age of 52.24 ± 15.67 with male: female ratio of 7:10. The most common cause of halitosis in the present study included chronic rhinosinusitis (38.7%), gingivitis/periodontitis (19.39%), tonsillitis (4.84%), laryngopharyngeal reflux (2%), deep neck space infections (1.2%). In 23.56%, the halitosis was a symptom of an underlying malignancy. Conclusion Halitosis from an extra oral origin can be the sign of an underlying systemic disease or malignancy. The consultation should be done with the periodontist, ENT specialist and a physician.

Interdental and subgingival microbiota may affect the tongue microbial ecology and oral malodour in health, gingivitis and periodontitis.

Oral malodour is often observed in gingivitis and chronic periodontitis patients, and the tongue microbiota is thought to play a major role in malodorous gas production, including volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) such as hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) and methanethiol (CH3 SH). This study aimed to examine the link between the presence of VSCs in mouth air (as a marker of oral malodour) and the oral bacterial ecology in the tongue and periodontal niches of healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis patients. Participants were clinically assessed using plaque index, bleeding on probing (BOP) and periodontal probing depths, and VSC concentrations in their oral cavity measured using a portable gas chromatograph. Tongue scrapings, subgingival and interdental plaque were collected from healthy individuals (n=22), and those with gingivitis (n=14) or chronic periodontitis (n=15). The bacterial 16S rRNA gene region V3-V4 in these samples was sequenced, and the sequences were analysed using the minimum entropy decomposition pipeline. Elevated VSC concentrations and CH3 SH:H2 S were observed in periodontitis compared with health. Significant ecological differences were observed in the tongue microbiota of healthy subjects with high plaque scores compared to low plaque scores, suggesting a possible connection between the microbiota of the tongue and the periodontium and that key dysbiotic changes may be initiated in the clinically healthy individuals who have higher dental plaque accumulation. Greater subgingival bacterial diversity was positively associated with H2 S in mouth air. Periodontopathic bacteria known to be prolific VSC producers increased in abundance on the tongue associated with increased bleeding on probing (BOP) and total percentage of periodontal pockets >6mm, supporting the suggestion that the tongue may become a reservoir for periodontopathogens. This study highlights the importance of the periodontal microbiota in malodour and has detected dysbiotic changes in the tongue microbiota in periodontitis.

Risk Factors in Burning Mouth Syndrome among Older Adults

Background of the study: A chronic and untraceable condition of pain is burning mouth syndrome (BMS) and is commonly observed in middle-aged and elderly people of both the genders. Many psychiatric disease that include anxiety levels, personality disorders and depressions are caused by oral problems i.e dysgeusia, burning mouth, oral malodour and dry mouth. Objective: This study aimed investigation of factors of risk associated with BMS in elderly people of both the genders. Design: It was a systematic review. Material and Methods: Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used and studies published from 2008 till date of review were included in the systematic review. For gathering relevant studies, some key words were used to find already published material i.e “elder, older, burning mouth syndrome / BMS, oral health problems, and elderly people”. Moreover, for enhancing relevancy and appropriateness, Boolean operators like AND, OR, double quotations, asterisk etc. were used. Popular and good reputed databases with peer-reviewed articles and journals were used that included PubMed health, Google scholar, EBSCO host, CINAHL, Embase and Cochrane Library. A table comprising of columns like study title, name of author, sample size, research objective, limitations and key findings was prepared for data extraction. Results: Based on moderate or strong quality, thirteen studies relevant to the objective were shortlisted. These studies had highlighted BMS as risk factor. It was held that female population is more affected by BMS in comparison with males and its prevalence is high in elderly aged people i.e. above 55-years age. Conclusion: From findings of the review, it is established that in older population numerous risk factors of BMS are dental procedures, increased age, lacking therapeutic treatments, lack of knowledge besides poor knowledge and practices of medical staff and poor care being given to older age people especially in post-menopausal stage in women. Keywords: Burning mouth syndrome, WHO, global population, post-menopause.

Relationship Between Halitosis and Periodontitis: a Pilot Study.

ObjectiveHalitosis, or oral malodour, is an unpleasant smell emanating from the oral cavity. It is a common complaint among patients with periodontitis, however, their relationship is not fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between halitosis measures, clinical indicators of periodontitis and tongue coating, as well as a novel measure, periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA).Material and methodsData of 10 patients with periodontitis and halitosis were included in this study. Halitosis was assessed by the organoleptic method and the portable sulphide monitor, measuring volatiles sulphur compounds. A comprehensive periodontal examination was conducted, and the parameters of probing depth, gingival recession, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, plaque and tongue coating were registered. The PISA was calculated using clinical attachment level, gingival recession and bleeding on probing.ResultsA correlation between organoleptic score and tongue coating (r=0.554) and plaque (r=0.614) could be observed. No correlation between measures of halitosis and probing depth or the PISA could be detected. A significant correlation was found between organoleptic scores and volatiles sulphur compounds values (r=0.931).ConclusionThis pilot study has shown and further reiterated a complex interplay between different factors causative to halitosis in patients affected by periodontitis. The results suggest that tongue coating and oral hygiene may have an important role in halitosis in patients with periodontitis.

ПРОБЛЕМА ГАЛИТОЗА В КОМПЛЕКСНОЙ ДИАГНОСТИКЕ И ЛЕЧЕНИИ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЙ ПАРОДОНТА. ЛИТЕРАТУРНЫЙ ОБЗОР

Subject. Oral malodour (halitosis) in patients with periodontal disease.&#x0D; Objectives. To study and review the literature on local (dental) and general (internal diseases) factors causing halitosis in patients with periodontal disease.&#x0D; Conclusion. The present literature review provides a sufficient basis to state that the problem of halitosis is relevant; there is presented the overview of developed classifications and identified combinations of main causes of halitosis linking the extent of ozostomia to oral hygiene status and gingival hemorrhage. By modern molecular genetic technologies (polymerase chain reaction and 16S ribosomal RNA gene chipping), advances have been made in understanding the main role of uncultivated anaerobic oral pathogens associated with halitosis. The materials of this literature review help to get the complex idea of the problem of halitosis in patients with inflammatory periodontal disease and can be used by dental clinicians in health care practice.

Assessment of Self-Perceived Halitosis and Oral Hygiene Habits Among Dental Students in Ernakulam District

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-perception of oral malodour and oral hygiene habits among dental students in Ernakulam district of Kerala. Materials and Methods: A structured and validated questionnaire comprising of ten questions was distributed to 787 students of five dental colleges in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. The questionnaire evaluated the self-perception of halitosis, the oral hygiene practices among them and the presence of gingival bleeding, dental caries and dryness of mouth. Results: The dental students here included 678 females and 109 males. Self-perceived halitosis was reported by 46(42.2%) male students and 221(32.6%) female students showing a statistically significant difference (p&lt;0.05) between both genders in reporting self-perceived halitosis. Conclusion: The results reveal a higher prevalence of self-perceived halitosis among males compared to females in this sample. The knowledge about halitosis and related factors was also greater among this sample of dental students. Clinical significance: The findings of our study highlight the fact that the regular removal of tongue coating and use of interdental aids along with regular oral hygiene measures can significantly reduce halitosis in an otherwise healthy individual.

The Relationship between both Partial and Complete Denture Wearers and the Presence of Oral Malodour and the Effect of Denture Cleansers on the Oral Microbiota

The Relationship between both Partial and Complete Denture Wearers and the Presence of Oral Malodour and the Effect of Denture Cleansers on the Oral Microbiota