Abstract
It was recently reported that greater attention is being given to halitosis and oral care, and the effects of halitosis on daily life. Although there have been questionnaire-based investigations regarding the awareness of halitosis and psychological condition and behavior relating to halitosis, little is known regarding the association between the body image, which shows an aspect of psychological health, and halitosis. The aim of this study was to clarify the association between the body image scale and perception of halitosis among Women's University students. The subjects were 134 Women's University students. They were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire about their body image and awareness of halitosis. The body image scale was based on the silhouette chart, which included 8 body shapes, ranging from thin to obese. The subjects who preferred thin were significantly more conscious that their own halitosis might be unpleasant for other persons, and would seek a check-up by dentists.
The present study suggested that the body image was associated with a potential tendency toward psychosocial and health-related behavior of the individuals who feel uneasy about halitosis.
