[Oral hygiene, caries status and bad breath among young Israeli recruits]

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the extent of self-reported bad breath in an Israeli population of young army recruits and to assess its relationship with other self-reported parameters, as well as general dental status. Self-reported parameters included smoking status, bad taste, gingival bleeding and the presence of tonsilloliths. The study comprised 426 young adults recruits (ages 18-19), almost all males (95%), all of whom agreed to answer a questionnaire. All participants underwent a dental screening and were divided into three groups regarding to their dental status (do not need treatment, need moderate treatment, need extensive treatment). Statistical analysis included Pearson's chi square test of association using BMDP statistical software. Among the recruits, 142 (33%) were active smokers. Thirty-five participants (8.2%) reported bad breath as well as bad taste. Twenty-seven (6.3%) reported being told that they had bad breath. Tonsilloliths were reported by 31 participants (7.3%) and gingival bleeding by 80 (18.8%). Self-reported bad breath was positively associated with bad taste, gingival bleeding, the presence of tonsilloliths and general dental status (p<0.05). The study indicates that self reports of bad breath are associated by objective factors (e.g. dental status, tonsilloliths) as well as subjective parameters (bad taste).