title: Effects of tongue coating and oral health on halitosis among dental students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess halitosis and determine the relationship between halitosis and tongue scores, periodontal status and DMFT among dental students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised 268 (178 female, 90 male) dental students. Halitosis was measured using a Halimeter and the organoleptic method. Halitosis was diagnosed with a mean volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) level of >=125 ppb and an organoleptic measurement of >= 2 on a 0- to 5-point scale. Tongue scores were obtained using a tongue coating index (TCI), periodontal status was measured and assessed using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) and DMFT indices were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Halitosis occurred at higher rates among male students than female students (83% vs 71%, P = 0.02). No differences were found in halitosis rates among students in different academic years (P = 0.6) or age groups (P = 0.6). A relationship was found between halitosis and tongue scores (P < 0.001) and between halitosis and mean CPITN scores (P = 0.004). The mean DMFT was 4.02 (SD = 3). No relationship was found between halitosis and DMFT index (P = 0.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Halitosis was prevalent among dental students. Given their responsibilities for diagnosing and improving oral health, they may benefit from increased awareness of the problem and encouragement to improve their own oral hygiene, especially male students.
authors.affiliation: Oral Diagnosis and Radiology Department, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. evirgense@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sehrazat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Evirgen
authors.forename: Kıvanç
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamburoğlu
mesh_terms: D004245:DMF Index; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013335:Students, Dental; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds