Oral Health Behaviours, Knowledge and Attitudes Among Dental College Students in Sulaimani City, Iraq

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the oral health behavior, knowledge, and attitudes of dental college students. 
 Methods: A self-assessment questionnaire was used in this study. Participants were divided into two groups according to their level of study (pre-clinical and clinical). 
 Results: A total of 140 students participated in the study, with 79(56%) pre-clinical and 61(44%) were at the clinical levels. The majority of students reported brushing their teeth (90.7%) with no association between toothbrushing behavior and gender or level of study (P>0.05). The most common tooth brushing frequency was twice daily with no gender association (P>0.05), and a higher percentage of students at clinical levels of the study reported brushing their teeth more than twice daily (P<0.05). The majority of students reported using fluoridated toothpaste (60.7%). In total, about half of the students reported using dental floss with a significant association with the level of study (P<0.01). Tongue cleaning was reported by 69.3% of the students, and about half of the students reported using mouthwashes, and one-fourth of the students reported using Miswak. In total, about half of the students reported their oral health status as “Good”. Routine dental visits and the level of the study were significantly associated (P<0.01). 
 Conclusions: Noticeable differences in oral health behaviors could not be concluded on a statistical basis. Nevertheless, there were areas of oral health behaviors where increased knowledge showed an improvement in health behavior. It is recommended that preventive programs, including self-care regimes, be started from the first year of dental education.