Evaluation of halitosis using Halitosis Associated Life Quality Test questionnaire and the Etiquette checker device

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Halitosis is an unpleasant disorder and a common phenomenon in people. The study aim was evaluation of halitosis using Halitosis Associated Life Quality Test questionnaires (HALT) and the Etiquette checker device.METHODS: The questionnaires were given to 345 individuals who referred to the Kerman Dental School and dental clinics, Kerman, Iran. At the same time, their halitosis was evaluated by Etiquette checker device. T-test analysis, chi-squared, one way analysis of variance, Fisher’s exact test and SPSS were used.RESULTS: The prevalence of halitosis was 54%. The analysis of the collected data showed that halitosis in women was more than men (P = 0.86), this disorder was more in individuals older than 35 in comparison with younger people (P = 0.01). This study showed that a significant relationship existed between the HALT score and the Etiquette score.CONCLUSION: There was a significant relation between self-estimated halitosis and higher Etiquette score, therefore HALT questionnaire can be a valid device for evaluating the life quality especially for halitosis.