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. 2011 Feb;61(1):47-51.
doi: 10.1111/j.1875-595X.2011.00010.x.

Influence of oral health and lifestyle on oral malodour

Aziza H Eldarrat  1
Affiliations

Influence of oral health and lifestyle on oral malodour

Aziza H Eldarrat. Int Dent J. 2011 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the influence of oral health and lifestyle on the prevalence of oral malodour among university students.

Materials and methods: Self-administered questionnaires. Chi-square test was used to detect any significant association between malodour and various variables.

Results: 9% of males and 6% of females complained of malodour, while 36% of males and 31% of females did not complain of malodour. Nevertheless, 12% of the males and 6% of females were unable to decide. The highest percentage of respondents not complaining of malodour were non-smokers (55%). A significant number of respondents were free from caries (48%), gingival disease (55%) and also were not complaining of malodour. Statistically, a significant association was found between malodour and gingival disease (p < 0.05) and between malodour and the use of a toothbrush on a daily basis (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The results highlight the influence of oral self-care and lifestyle on malodour. Public awareness, diagnosis and treatment of malodour are primarily the responsibility of dentists. Malodour can have a distressing effect and the affected person may avoid socialising.

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