Parental Perception of Oral Halitosis in Their Children and Its Effect on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: Halitosis, or oral malodor, is an oral condition characterized by unpleasant smells that exceed socially acceptable limits. Oral malodor is quite a frequent condition in the pediatric population. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the impact of oral halitosis on oral health-related quality of life among children and adolescents based on parental perception in Saudi Arabia. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted among parents or caregivers of children and adolescents aged 5-14 in Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire link, provided in Arabic and English, was disseminated via different social media platforms targeting the eligible parents/caregivers of children visiting dental clinics. Subsequently, participants were recruited for this research using the snowball sampling approach. The questionnaire comprised of three sections: socio-economic information, parental perception of oral halitosis in their children, and oral health-related quality of life. The Child Oral Health Quality of Life Questionnaire (COHQoL) evaluated the children’s oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). A Chi-square test, binary logistic regression analysis, and Spearman correlation tests were applied to determine the relationship between different variables and halitosis. Results: A total of 1416 parents participated in this study. The prevalence of parental-perceived halitosis in their children was 74.1% (n=1049). A total of 563 (53.7%) male children and 486 (46.3%) female children were reported unpleasant breath odor without any significant difference (X2=0.200, df=1, p=0.654). A significant negative correlations were observed between halitosis and oral symptoms (r=-0.214, P <0.001), emotions (r= −0.152, p<0.001), Family environment (r=−0.178, p<0.001), and overall OHRQoL of the children (r=−0.198, p<0.001). Conclusion: The parent perceived prevalence of oral halitosis among children aged 8.04±3.5 years was very high in Saudi Arabia. The presence of oral halitosis among children and adolescents negatively impacted OHRQoL. Age, nationality, fathers’ education and occupation were the significant predictors of OHRQoL among children.