Prevalence of halitosis in children considering oral hygiene, gender and age.

BACKGROUND To date, few studies have addressed halitosis in the paediatric population. As such, the aim of the present study was to investigate symptoms, signs and risk factors associated with halitosis in healthy children and to present a model based on the clinical data that predicts the presence of halitosis. METHODS A total of 101 individuals were included. All patients received a questionnaire that queried on sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported halitosis and dental treatment history. Individuals received a thorough intra-oral examination, and the volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) were measured to test the presence of halitosis with a portable sulphide monitor (Halimeter(®); Interscan Co., Chatsworth, CA, USA). The distribution of the sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported halitosis, dental treatment history and other oral features was evaluated. Finally, a statistical model was constructed with the best set of features to predict halitosis in children. RESULTS The median age was 12.0 years (mean: 11.7 ± SD 2.7) with 54.5% males. Halitosis (VSC > 100 parts per billion, or ppb) was objectively measured in 37.6% of patients. For comparison purposes, Bayesian network was obtained using clinical and demographic data. The model consisted of four variables (sex, age, oral hygiene status and self-reported halitosis) directly related to the presence of halitosis (VSC > 100 ppb). This model achieved 76.4% area under receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC). Overall, female patients or individuals with dental plaque on more than 25% of the dental surfaces or patients older than 13 year old were more prone to present with halitosis. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that halitosis in the paediatric population is related to poor oral hygiene and may be more common in females and older individuals. This specific predictive model may be useful to identify subgroups to target for intervention to treat oral halitosis.

[1]  T. Beikler,et al.  Halitosis: the multidisciplinary approach , 2012, International Journal of Oral Science.

[2]  J. Greenman,et al.  Halitology (breath odour: aetiopathogenesis and management). , 2012, Oral diseases.

[3]  H. Ozdemir,et al.  Effect of fixed appliances on oral malodor. , 2011, American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics : official publication of the American Association of Orthodontists, its constituent societies, and the American Board of Orthodontics.

[4]  A. Kawamoto,et al.  Relationship between oral malodor and the menstrual cycle. , 2010, Journal of periodontal research.

[5]  J. Stoltenberg,et al.  Halitosis: a review of current literature. , 2010, Journal of dental hygiene : JDH.

[6]  M. Tong,et al.  Reproducibility of clinical grading of tonsillar size. , 2010, Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery.

[7]  F. Romano,et al.  Patients' self-assessment of oral malodour and its relationship with organoleptic scores and oral conditions. , 2010, International journal of dental hygiene.

[8]  B. Zachrisson,et al.  Gingival condition associated with orthodontic treatment. , 2009, The Angle orthodontist.

[9]  J. Greenman,et al.  Halitosis (breath odor). , 2008, Periodontology 2000.

[10]  R. Nalçaci,et al.  Prevalence of breath malodour in 7- 11-year-old children living in Middle Anatolia, Turkey. , 2008, Community dental health.

[11]  F. Hughes,et al.  Oral malodour--a review. , 2008, Archives of oral biology.

[12]  L. Feenstra,et al.  A review of the current literature on aetiology and measurement methods of halitosis. , 2007, Journal of dentistry.

[13]  A. Dupuy,et al.  Critical review of published microarray studies for cancer outcome and guidelines on statistical analysis and reporting. , 2007, Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

[14]  R. Orbak,et al.  Effect of oral hygiene instruction and scaling on oral malodour in a population of Turkish children with gingival inflammation. , 2006, International journal of paediatric dentistry.

[15]  C. Scully,et al.  Oral malodour (halitosis) , 2006, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[16]  L. McKeown Social relations and breath odour. , 2003, International journal of dental hygiene.

[17]  C. Flaitz,et al.  Evaluation of halitosis in children and mothers. , 2003, Pediatric dentistry.

[18]  K. Selvig,et al.  Bacterial colonization associated with fixed orthodontic appliances. A scanning electron microscopy study. , 2001, European journal of orthodontics.

[19]  M. Quirynen,et al.  Effect of different mouthrinses on morning breath. , 2001, Journal of periodontology.

[20]  R. Baht,et al.  Self-perception of breath odor. , 2001, Journal of the American Dental Association.

[21]  M. Rosenberg,et al.  Halitosis in children. , 1999, The Journal of pediatrics.

[22]  M Rosenberg,et al.  Clinical assessment of bad breath: current concepts. , 1996, Journal of the American Dental Association.

[23]  R. Baht,et al.  Self-estimation of Oral Malodor , 1995, Journal of dental research.

[24]  T Takehara,et al.  Correlation between volatile sulphur compounds and certain oral health measurements in the general population. , 1995, Journal of periodontology.

[25]  David S. Parsons,et al.  Functional endoscopic surgery in children: A retrospective analysis of results , 1993, The Laryngoscope.

[26]  C. McCulloch,et al.  Measurement of oral malodor: current methods and future prospects. , 1992, Journal of periodontology.

[27]  L. Brodsky,et al.  Modern assessment of tonsils and adenoids. , 1989, Pediatric clinics of North America.

[28]  S. Telian,et al.  The effect of antibiotic therapy on recovery after tonsillectomy in children. A controlled study. , 1986, Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery.

[29]  N. Pender Aspects of Oral Health in Orthodontic Patients , 1986, British journal of orthodontics.

[30]  B. Zachrisson Gingival condition associated with orthodontic treatment. II. Histologic findings. , 1972, The Angle orthodontist.

[31]  H Löe,et al.  The Gingival Index, the Plaque Index and the Retention Index Systems. , 1967, Journal of periodontology.

[32]  F. Peter [The classification of malocclusion]. , 1949, Osterreichische Zeitschrift fur Stomatologie.

[33]  Martin Dewey,et al.  Classification of malocclusion , 1915 .

[34]  J. Radford,et al.  Evaluation of oral malodor in children , 2009, BDJ.

[35]  A. P. D. Ponce de Leon,et al.  Oral malodour and its association with age and sex in a general population in Brazil. , 2007, Oral diseases.