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Oral health impact of halitosis in Chinese adults
1Department of Preventive Dentistry, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, China.
Insights
Halitosis significantly impacts oral health-related quality of life, causing psychological discomfort and disability. This study compared halitosis patients to controls, revealing poorer OHRQoL in those with bad breath.
Area of Science:
- Oral Health and Quality of Life Research
- Psychological Impact of Medical Conditions
Background:
- Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, can negatively affect an individual's well-being.
- Understanding the impact of halitosis on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is crucial for effective patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare OHRQoL between patients diagnosed with halitosis and those without.
- To investigate the specific relationships between halitosis and various aspects of OHRQoL.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 102 halitosis patients and 102 controls.
- Assessment included halitosis measurements (volatile sulphur compounds, organoleptic tests), oral examinations, and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Halitosis patients reported significantly poorer OHRQoL, with higher OHIP-14 scores (severity) and a greater number of negative impacts (extent).
- Prevalence of negative impacts was substantially higher in the halitosis group (56%) compared to controls (21%).
- Key impacts for halitosis patients included psychological discomfort and disability.
Conclusions:
- Halitosis is associated with a significantly diminished oral health-related quality of life.
- Psychological distress and functional limitations are common consequences of halitosis.
Objectives:
To compare differences in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) between halitosis and non-halitosis patients and to explore relationships between halitosis and OHRQoL.
Methods:
Patients who visited the halitosis clinic at the Ninth People's Hospital and were diagnosed with halitosis were included in the halitosis group. The control group consisted of patients without halitosis. All participants were assessed for halitosis (volatile sulphur compound measurements with a portable sulphide monitor, Oral Chroma and organoleptic tests), underwent a clinical oral examination (dental caries status and periodontal condition) and completed a questionnaire. Oral health-related quality of life was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14, Chinese version).
Results:
A total of 204 patients (102 halitosis and 102 controls) were included. The halitosis group had significantly higher OHIP-14 scores (severity) than the control group (15.7 versus 7.9, P < 0.001). The mean number of items with negative impact (extent) was significantly different between the halitosis and control groups (1.8 versus 0.3, P < 0.001). Around 56% of participants in the halitosis group reported at least one item with 'fairly often' or 'very often' (prevalence), while 21% did so in the control group (P < 0.001). In halitosis patients, the most commonly reported negative impacts were within the domains of 'psychological discomfort' and 'psychological disability'.
Conclusions:
Oral health-related quality of life status was significantly poorer in halitosis patients than in non-halitosis patients. Halitosis patients may experience some degree of psychological discomfort and disability.
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