Emotional and Social Impact of Halitosis on Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review
Raluca Briceag,
Aureliana Caraiane,
Gheorghe Raftu,
Razvan Mihai Horhat,
Iulia Bogdan,
Roxana Manuela Fericean,
Luai Shaaban,
Malina Popa,
Bogdan Andrei Bumbu,
Melania Lavinia Bratu,
Marius Pricop,
Serban Talpos
Affiliations
Raluca Briceag
Faculty of Dental Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 7 Ilarie Voronca Street, 900684 Constanta, Romania
Aureliana Caraiane
Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 900684 Constanta, Romania
Gheorghe Raftu
Faculty of Dental Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 7 Ilarie Voronca Street, 900684 Constanta, Romania
Razvan Mihai Horhat
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Iulia Bogdan
Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Roxana Manuela Fericean
Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Luai Shaaban
Faculty of General Medicine, Baskent University, Fatih Sultan, Ankara 06790, Turkey
Malina Popa
Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Revolutiei Boulevard 9, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Bogdan Andrei Bumbu
Department of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania
Melania Lavinia Bratu
Department of Psychology, Faculty of General Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Revolutiei Boulevard 9, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Marius Pricop
Discipline of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Revolutiei Boulevard 9, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Serban Talpos
Discipline of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Revolutiei Boulevard 9, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Background and Objectives: Halitosis is a condition characterized by unpleasant breath smell that is starting to receive serious scientific attention, considering it reflects on people’s social and personal life. While most studies focus on the prevalence of halitosis, its medical etiology, and the psychological impact on adults, there is a lack of evidence regarding the social impact of halitosis on the younger population. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to observe the social and emotional impact that halitosis has on adolescents and young adults. Materials and Methods: The review followed the PRISMA protocol, and four electronic databases (Scopus, Scholar, Web of Science, and ProQuest) were searched. From a total of 593 studies retrieved, only 6 were included in the study after assessing the eligibility criteria. Results: The main results showed that the levels of self-reported halitosis ranged from 23.1% to 77.5%, with an average of 44.7%, indicating a significant heterogeneity among the studies reporting this issue. Adolescents and young adults who experienced bad breath were feeling more anxious and depressed according to the non-standardized questionnaires and the standardized questionnaires (OHIP-14 and SCL-9-R). The respondents were isolated from social interactions and consequently had lower self-esteem and impaired quality of life. Conclusions: The conclusions drawn indicate the need for action on a medical level, as well as on a psychological level, in order to improve people’s oral health and help them navigate through the difficulties of maintaining social interactions as they live with halitosis.
