CORRELATION OF ORAL HYGIENE PRACTICES, SMOKING AND ORAL HEALTH CONDITION WITH SELF PERCEIVED HALITOSIS AMONGST UNDERGRADUATE DENTAL STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

ABSTRACT

From this study the male and female dental students are conscious of their oral hygiene practices, they maintained a good one. There is generally less report of self-perceived halitosis although of the few, it is more perceived in males (11.60%) than in female (9.50%). The dental students can do better in maintenance of good oral hygiene habits as they are at the fore front of this movement. They cannot be role models for their patients if they don’t maintain good oral hygiene practices themselves. Halitosis is an indication of poor oral health. It can be inferred from this study that poor oral hygiene practices, oral conditions such as dry mouth, bleeding gums, dental caries and coating or deposits over tongue tend to influence the prevalence of halitosis.