Attitudes Towards Individuals with Halitosis: an Online Cross Sectional Survey of the Dutch General Population

Overview

Journal Br Dent J

Specialty Dentistry

Date 2014 Feb 22

PMID 24557410

Citations 12

Authors

A de Jongh

A J van Wijk

M Horstman

C de Baat

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To derive an estimate of encounters with halitosis and to assess the impact of halitosis on their psychosocial interactions with halitosis patients.

Methods: Participants were 1,006 members of an online panel, being representative of the population of the Netherlands with regard to gender, age, family situation, education level and labour participation. They were invited to participate in a survey using an online questionnaire with four questions on becoming faced with people having halitosis.

Results: Almost 90% of the participants indicated being faced with a person having halitosis regularly, 40% at least once a week, and men significantly more frequently than women. Halitosis was reported to be a strong 'downer' when meeting a person for the first time. Whether one would draw a person's attention to his breath malodour proved to be related to the kind of person involved and appeared to decrease with the increase of the social distance to the person. Drawing a person's attention to his breath malodour would virtually always be performed personally.

Conclusion: Halitosis is considered to be one of the most unattractive aspects of social interactions and has potentially damaging effects on psychosocial interactions and relationships.

Citing Articles

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward halitosis among dental patients at Zewditu memorial hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Degif R, Abaynew Y Front Oral Health. 2025; 6:1522682.

PMID: 40065837 PMC: 11891364. DOI: 10.3389/froh.2025.1522682.

Evaluation of self-perceived halitosis and effective conditions in periodontology clinic applicants: A cross-sectional study.

Ozkan Sen D, Durmaz E, Sarac F Medicine (Baltimore). 2024; 103(50):e40424.

PMID: 39686468 PMC: 11651456. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000040424.

Laser Therapy: An Alternative Approach for the Management of Halitosis.

Waikar V, Pankey N, Lohe V Cureus. 2024; 16(7):e65911.

PMID: 39219890 PMC: 11364961. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.65911.

Association Between Oral Malodor and Dementia: An 11-Year Follow-Up Study in Japan.

Ho D, Zaitsu T, Ihira H, Iwasaki M, Yoshihara A, Suzuki S J Alzheimers Dis Rep. 2024; 8(1):805-816.

PMID: 38910945 PMC: 11191629. DOI: 10.3233/ADR-240015.

Causes and Management of Halitosis: A Narrative Review.

Khounganian R, Alasmari O, Aldosari M, Alghanemi N Cureus. 2023; 15(8):e43742.

PMID: 37727189 PMC: 10506127. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43742.

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