Prevalence of self-reported halitosis and associated factors among dental patients attending a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of self-reported halitosis among dental patients seen in a teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 135 dental patients enrolled at the Oral Diagnosis/Periodontology Clinics of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess self-reported halitosis (oral malodor) in the subjects. Association between self-reported halitosis and sociodemography (age, gender, education, marital status, ethnicity, and religion) and intraoral findings (gingivitis, periodontitis, tongue coating, caries, and number of mobile teeth) was determined. Results: The prevalence of self-reported halitosis was 14.8% and was significantly associated with age of 40 years and above (P = 0.025), and male gender (P = 0.032). Subjects with gingivitis were 2 times more likely to have halitosis than those without gingivitis (odds ratio [OR] = 2.19 while subjects with tongue coating were 2 times more likely to have halitosis than those without tongue coating OR = 2.02. About 50% perceived halitosis by themselves, 25% by family and friends, and 20% from presumed actions of people around them. The majority (70%) of the patients perceived the halitosis from their mouths, 30% from their mouth and nose. Most (75%) of the subjects had perceived the halitosis for more than 4 weeks while only 3% had sought professional treatment. Conclusion: Older age of 40 years and above and male gender were the factors associated with self-reported halitosis in this study. The health-seeking behavior of the patients for the treatment of the halitosis was poor.