Study of Halitosis Awareness and Management Among Adults in Oyo State

Halitosis (bad breath) is a socially significant condition with both oral and systemic aetiologies, and assessing community awareness and management practices in South West Nigeria informs public oral health education. This study assessed awareness of halitosis causes, prevalence of self-perceived halitosis, and management practices among adults in Ibadan North and Ogbomoso Local Government Areas, Oyo State. A cross-sectional survey of 340 adults was conducted. A structured questionnaire assessed self-perceived halitosis frequency, beliefs about its causes, self-management strategies, awareness of tongue cleaning, professional consultation rates, and psychosocial impact. Results showed that 42.4 percent reported frequent self-perceived halitosis. Inadequate oral hygiene was correctly identified as the primary cause by 58.8 percent, but systemic causes such as gastrointestinal disease were unknown to 81.2 percent. Tongue cleaning was practised by only 24.1 percent, despite its established efficacy. Mouthwash use was the most common management strategy (47.9 percent). Professional dental consultation for halitosis had been sought by only 8.8 percent of those with frequent symptoms. Embarrassment and social anxiety were reported by 71.4 percent of frequent halitosis sufferers. Chewing gum was used as a masking agent by 56.8 percent. Recommendations include community education on tongue hygiene and systemic halitosis causes, training dental officers in structured halitosis assessment protocols, and improving access to professional oral health services for the management of this prevalent condition in Oyo State.

Keywords: halitosis, self-perceived bad breath, oral hygiene, tongue cleaning, Oyo State