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Knowledge and perception of parents regarding halitosis in their children in Saudi Arabia
Noura A Almadhi1, Ayman M Sulimany1, Hamad A Alzoman2
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Parents often misperceive halitosis (bad breath) in children. While many parents had good knowledge, clinical detection of halitosis was much higher than parental perception, indicating a significant knowledge gap.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Oral Health
- Halitosis Research
Background:
- Halitosis, or bad breath, is a common concern in children.
- Understanding parental knowledge and perception is crucial for effective management.
- Accurate assessment of halitosis in children requires objective measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess parental knowledge regarding halitosis in children.
- To compare parental perception of halitosis with clinical findings.
- To investigate the correlation between parental perception and objective halitosis measurements.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 67 children aged 3-8 years at a Dental University Hospital.
- Parents completed questionnaires on halitosis knowledge and perception.
- Halitosis was objectively assessed using a portable gas chromatograph (OralChroma™).
Main Results:
- Over half of parents (52.2%) had high knowledge scores; knowledge correlated with child's age.
- Parental perception of halitosis was present in 58.2% of cases.
- Clinical halitosis was detected in 86.6% of children, significantly higher than parental perception.
- Parental perception did not align significantly with objective OralChroma™ readings.
Conclusions:
- Parental knowledge about halitosis is moderate, but perception often underestimates its clinical prevalence.
- A significant discrepancy exists between perceived and actual halitosis in children.
- Objective measurement tools are essential for accurate halitosis diagnosis in pediatric populations.
Objective:
To evaluate parents' knowledge about halitosis, and to compare parents' perception of halitosis in their children to the presence of halitosis clinically.
Methods:
Children between 3 and 8 years attended to Dental University Hospital, King Saud University, were screened. Children satisfying inclusion criteria and their parents agreed to participate were included. Questionnaires regarding parents' knowledge and perception about halitosis in their children were filled by attending parents. Then, the assessment of halitosis in the participating children carried out by portable gas chromatograph device (OralChromaTM).
Results:
A total of 67 children (44 girls and 23 boys) were included in this study with a mean age of 5.3 years (SD = 1.7). The majority of the questionnaires (n = 44, 65.7%) were filled by accompanying fathers. One in two (52.2%) parents obtained high knowledge score about halitosis. Parents' knowledge was significantly associated with the mean age of the children (P = 0.02). Thirty-nine (58.2%) parents perceived halitosis in their children. Gender, child's age, parents' education level, or family income were not associated with parents' perception of halitosis. Halitosis was detected clinically in 58 children (86.6%). Thirty-eight (57%) of parents' perception of halitosis was in consistency with OralChromaTM readings; however, there was no significant association between parents' perception and the OralChromaTM score.
Conclusion:
Half of the parents had good knowledge about halitosis and 6 in 10 parents perceived halitosis in their children which is quite less than the presence of halitosis detected clinically. Moreover, parents' perception was not associated with the OralChromaTM score.
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