Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-perception of oral malodour and oral hygiene habits among dental students in Ernakulam district of Kerala. Materials and Methods: A structured and validated questionnaire comprising of ten questions was distributed to 787 students of five dental colleges in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. The questionnaire evaluated the self-perception of halitosis, the oral hygiene practices among them and the presence of gingival bleeding, dental caries and dryness of mouth. Results: The dental students here included 678 females and 109 males. Self-perceived halitosis was reported by 46(42.2%) male students and 221(32.6%) female students showing a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between both genders in reporting self-perceived halitosis. Conclusion: The results reveal a higher prevalence of self-perceived halitosis among males compared to females in this sample. The knowledge about halitosis and related factors was also greater among this sample of dental students. Clinical significance: The findings of our study highlight the fact that the regular removal of tongue coating and use of interdental aids along with regular oral hygiene measures can significantly reduce halitosis in an otherwise healthy individual.

This review deals with one of the most perplexing discoveries made recently in the field of medicine which is the inflammasome. They are an integral part of the innate immunity and is known to play a major role in the inflammatory process. The inflammasomes have a diverse range of functions most of which still remain to be elucidated. There are different families of inflammasomes involved in the host response to an inflammatory process. This information provides us with the possibility of new targets for modulating the host responses, thus, enabling us to respond to the bacterial challenges more efficiently in future.

The coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") is an emerging, rapidly spreading disease which was first detected in December 2019 in China. This was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO in January 2020. In connection with this, the Government of India ordered a nationwide lockdown on March 24, 2020 for 21 days initially, which was extended later. Aim: To assess the knowledge and perceptions in relation to COVID-19 pandemic among dental professionals during the first 40 days of national lockdown in India. Settings and Design: A web-based cross-sectional study. Convenient sampling design was used. Materials and Methods: The survey application Google forms was used for the study. A self-constructed 22-item questionnaire in English language was provided to the participants which required approximately 5 minutes to complete. Statistical Analysis: SPSS version 24 was used. A chi square test was used to investigate the level of association among variables at significance level p<0.05. Results: Out of the 670 participants, 53% were females, 56.1% were aged 25-34 years, and more than half of them were post graduates. A significant proportion of dentists had a good knowledge of its incubation period (70.4%) and modes of transmission (61.8%) and showed positive perceptions of COVID-19 prevention and control. Most participants predicted a change in post lockdown practice. Conclusions: As the global threat of COVID-19 continues unabated, there lies a greater responsibility with the dental professionals in India to educate themselves and the general population regarding the risks and preventive measures of COVID-19.

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