Social stigma related to halitosis in Saudi and British population: A comparative study

Introduction: Oral malodor or halitosis is a common problem in the general population throughout the world. Results of previous research findings suggest that there is a relationship between oral malodor and social anxiety disorder. Halitosis can be very damaging to someone psychologically due to the social stigma. In this study, we tried to assess the social stigma related to halitosis and compare that in Saudi and British population. Methodology: A pretested questionnaire was distributed among Saudi and British population. Responses were obtained from 308 (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and 304 (United Kingdom) participants. The purpose of this study was explained to the participants before distributing questionnaire form and the information was collected accordingly. Results: A total of 612 participants, 308 (Jeddah and Abha) and 304 (Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Glasgow) were selected and all the participants were aware of their halitosis. Selected Saudi population assessed their halitosis as mild (50.6%), moderate (30.12%) and severe (19.28%). Selected British population assessed their halitosis as mild (39.71%), moderate (36.76%), and severe (23.53%). 71.2% of the Saudi population selected and 56.6% of the United Kingdom population selected responded that they encountered individuals with halitosis. 76.9% of Saudi population selected and 55.8% of United Kingdom population selected encountered social embarrassment due to halitosis. Conclusion: Considerable amount of stigma associated with halitosis persists in both countries. Though there are no significant differences in the social stigma attached with halitosis between the United Kingdom and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is still a matter of concern

Demographic and Clinical Profile of Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND: Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder which is irreversible in nature and has high morbidity and high malignant transformation rate and hence demands focus on prevention of the disease at population and individual level. AIMS: Assessment of risk factors and the role of habit variables such as duration and frequency in the severity of OSMF and to ascertain the association of gender predilection for different habits and severity of OSMF. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This descriptive retrospective study of 1801 OSMF patients was carried out at the Dental hospital in the rural population of Gwalior region. The clinicodemographic data including details of habits was collected for a period of 5 years, from January 2016 to December 2021. Collected data was analysed using Systat version 12 software. RESULTS: The average age of the patient in the study was 32.8 years, with 16.5:1 M:F ratio. Significantly higher proportions of females (69.6%) were illiterate and belonged to low socioeconomic status. There was a statistically significant increase for areca nut chewing (OR=0.135(0.054-0.342), P < 0.0001), gutkha chewing (OR=22.32(10.421-47.817), P < 0.0001), tobacco chewing (OR= 0.111(0.04-0.308), p<0.0001), smoking habits (OR=30.791(7.472-126.89), P < 0.0001) and alcohol (OR=12.692(3.077-52.347, p < 0.0001) in males when compared with females. The maximum patients were seen in stage II (37%) and stage III (34%), followed by stage I (18.73%) and stage IV (10.3%) and the severity of OSMF was more in subjects who had the habits for longer duration. CONCLUSION: There was a definite gender predilection for various habits and their variables (frequency, duration), educational and socioeconomic status, clinical features and disease severity. Significant correlation was also found between habit variables (duration, frequency) and severity of the disease