Abstract
Introduction
Halitosis is a condition characterized by unpleasant breath,affecting thousands of people and causing a negative impact on them.
Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate self-perception of halitosis condition by applying a specific questionnaire and having clinical evaluation.
Material and method
The sample was composed by 59 randomly selected voluntaries between the ages of 20 and 60 years old who were users of Basic Health Units of Araraquara. The methodologies applied were: 1. Signature of informed consent; 2. Application of standardized questionnaire specially designed for this research; 3. Clinical confirmation through halimeter (Tanita Breath Alert CHC-212S). After the experimental phase, all the volunteers received a document with general information about halitosis (causes and treatment). The results were grouped in Microsoft Excel tables and analyzed by Chi-square test.
Result and conclusion
After the analyses, it was concluded that people had lost the ability to perceive their own breath when they had halitosis and they are unable to evaluate themselves effectively; the risky factors that influenced the halitosis were: people over the age of 40, the use some types of drugs, some diseases, frequency of visit to the dentist and poor oral hygiene including bad-technique procedures such as teeth brushing, flossing, tongue cleaning and dentures cleaning. Other factors studied were not statistically sufficient to influence halitosis.
Descriptors:
Halitosis; diagnosis; anaerobic bacteria
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