Oral Hygiene Awareness Research Articles

Oral hygiene and maintenance habits among fixed partial denture wearers

Aim: This study aimed to investigate oral hygiene and maintenance habits of fixed partial denture (FPD) wearers. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 patients (93 males, and 107 females) answered a questionnaire regarding their oral hygiene habits and awareness of specific measures to maintain proper hygiene underneath their FPDs. Results: The most patients (n = 166, 83%) did not use any special aid to maintain hygiene underneath pontics. The majority of them (n = 178, 89%) reported that their dentist did not inform them about these aids. In addition, 150 patients (75%) reported that they were not advised by the dentist to book recall visits. Conclusion: There is a lack of awareness among FPD wearers regarding the specific measures needed to maintain proper hygiene underneath FPDs. Dentists should be obligated to educate their patients regarding the maintenance of proper oral hygiene under their prostheses.

Train the trainer approach to oral health in early year’s settings

Aim: Improve knowledge and confidence of children’s centre staff in oral health Method: Multi disciplinary team training of those who work with children under 5 to promote Oral health. Results: The importance and awareness of Oral health and hygiene for under 5s was raised. Knowledge and confidence in discussing oral health was raised. Conclusions: This work could be rolled out to cover other areas by using a similar model. The program will be of limited effect if it is not maintained annually with a rolling program of training

Oral Hygiene Awareness on Patients Attending Dental OPD in A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences

Abstract Background- Oral hygiene is highly personalised concept and major public health concern that relies on an individual's culture and socio-economic status. Hence, it is imperative that health services should be made available to all rural/semi urban areas as well. Thus it is important to create awareness through various public health programs regarding oral hygiene and its effects on general health in order to change the total perspective of the patients towards dental problems to lead a healthy quality life. Objective- Thus the aim of this study is to assess the oral hygiene awareness and their knowledge on different oral hygiene practices. Materials and Methods- A total of 369 patients participated in the study.. The patients were interviewed on questionnaire basis. A self-reported questionnaire consisting of 26 multiple choice questions written in English were given to the patients. Statistical analysis- Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage was used to assess the oral health awareness and oral hygiene practice among the subjects who are attending A.B Shetty Memorial Institute Of Dental Sciences, Derlakatte, Mangalore. Results- The result of this study showed an acute lack of oral hygiene awareness and limited knowledge of oral hygiene practices. Most of the patients were not aware of the relationship between systemic and general health. Conclusion- Hence there is an urgent need to educate and motivate the patients for better oral hygiene awareness and practises and conduct various health programs for the same.

Awareness and Practices of Oral Hygiene among Female Undergraduates in a Malaysian University

<em>The aim of this study is to evaluate the extent of awareness and practices of oral hygiene among undergraduate female students in a residential college of a university at Malaysia and to assess the need for awareness programs about oral hygiene. The study was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire. Hundred undergraduate female Malay students were selected as sample through convenience sampling. The results indicated that a majority of the respondents used toothpaste and toothbrush as primary tools for cleaning their teeth twice a day and was found that they had never used Miswak (a wooden teeth-cleaning stick made from tree twigs). They had adequate knowledge about periodontal and gingival health and were aware of the importance of visiting dentist regularly; however, most of them visited dentists when having a toothache. They had also reported need for organizing oral hygiene awareness programs by college administration and showed adequate oral hygiene knowledge and practices. Nevertheless, few inadequate practices were also identified which were being considered under oral hygiene along with lack of awareness programs being organized in college for which recommendations are suggested.</em>

Oral Hygiene Awareness and Effect of Orthodontic Treatment on Periodontal Health among Medical Students

Abstract Background: Orthodontic treatment helps in improving aesthetics, oral hygiene as well as functional occlusion. Also, importance of oral hygiene in orthodontic patients is always intensified to prevent any further periodontal disease. Regular oral hygiene maintenance is important for the maintenance of gingival health during and after orthodontic therapy as it helps in preservation of the health of gingiva as well as overall oral health. Objective: To assess the extent of oral hygiene awareness and impact of orthodontic treatment on of periodontal health, among medical students. Method: A cross sectional survey containing 19 questions was answered by 150 medical students who had undergone fixed Orthodontic treatment from various colleges in Mangalore, Karnataka. Results and Conclusion: The results of this survey showed that medical students have adequate knowledge of oral hygiene practices. Majority of medical students who had undergone orthodontic treatment showed increased bleeding from gums, increased sensitivity and difficulty in brushing and flossing indicating that orthodontic treatment does have impact on maintenance of oral hygiene. Thus, a thorough assessment of the periodontal health is recommended prior to orthodontic treatment. Equal emphasis should also be laid on the necessity of good oral hygiene and regular periodontal maintenance for the best outcome.

Evaluation of oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices among diabetics in a Northern Union Territory of India

Background: Periodontal disease has been labeled as the “sixth” complication of diabetes. The two diseases have a bidirectional adverse relationship to each other. Diabetes can aggravate periodontitis, and periodontitis can negatively affect the glycemic control of diabetics. Oral hygiene awareness and treatment of periodontal diseases play an important part not only in prevention of many complications due to diabetes but also decrease the morbidity due to these manifestations. Aim: The goal of this cross-sectional study was to determine the actual awareness of diabetic patients about their oral health and the oral hygiene measures being practiced by them. Another aim was to evaluate their knowledge regarding the impact of oral health on glycemic control. It was also assessed whether there was any significant difference in the oral health awareness levels with their nondiabetic counterparts. Materials and Methods: One hundred diabetic and one hundred nondiabetic respondents filled up a validated questionnaire which comprised questions on personal data, oral hygiene knowledge, attitude, oral hygiene practices, and their knowledge regarding the correlation of oral health to adverse glycemic control and vice versa. Data were compiled and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The results indicate no statistically significant differences in the variables assessed in both the groups, indicating that no further knowledge had been imparted to the diabetics after they were detected with the disease. Seventy-three percent of nondiabetics and 76% of diabetics were unaware of the relationship between oral health and diabetes. Conclusion: The study concludes that both diabetics and nondiabetics lack awareness of the relationships between diabetes and oral health. To provide better oral health care, more knowledge needs to be made available to the diabetic patients and the medical community.

A comparative evaluation of awareness regarding periodontal health and oral hygiene practices among dental and medical undergraduate students in Beed District of Maharashtra

Background: Dental and medical students are the healthcare takers of the general population. They play an important role in oral health care and its promotion in the society. Hence, their self-awareness regarding periodontal health and oral hygiene practices is mandatory. Aim: This study aims to evaluate awareness regarding periodontal health and oral hygiene practices among dental and medical undergraduate students. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 participants, out of which 100 medical and 100 dental undergraduate students were selected for this study. Structured questionnaires regarding teeth cleaning habit, use of tooth brushing, tongue cleaning, perception of halitosis, and treatment taken for halitosis were prepared and distributed to collect information regarding awareness of periodontal health and oral hygiene. The data were subjected to statistical analyses. Statistical Analysis: Chi-square test was applied for comparison among dental and medical undergraduate students. P value was considered statistically significant at P < 0.005 level. Results: Strongly significant differences were observed among the dental and medical students in brushing teeth twice daily, routine dental visit for oral hygiene maintenance, self-perception for halitosis, and treatment taken for halitosis (P < 0.005). Conclusion: Both the medical as well as dental professional students must be encouraged to be a good role model in promoting oral health education for their families, friends, patients, and ultimately for the society.

Oral Hygiene–Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among the Health Worker (ANM/ASHA) of Kamrup (Metro) District in North East Region of India

Background and aim: Oral health is an integral part of the general health and wellbeing of an individual to maintain the quality of life. As there is no valid and reliable instrument for identifying the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) among the grass root level health workers (ANM/ASHA) in the field of oral hygiene. Therefore an instrument has been designed to identify their concerns i.e., KAP. So that their KAP on oral health awareness could be updated through different training programs and thereby we can achieve the aim to assess the oral hygiene awareness and practice among the ANM/ASHA to provide insight into educational programs. Design and methods: A cross sectional survey was carried out to assess the KAP among the health workers (ANM/ASHA) through self-constructed, 28-items and a close-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire was pilot tested on 34-ANM to identify its internal consistency and the reliability for the different subscales (KAP). After the questionnaire is pilot tested on ANM, then it was again tested on 172-ASHA of the pre-selected zones. Results: The entire questionnaire was developed and evaluated by using Cronbach’s alpha (α) and found to be 0.719. This indicates a high level of internal consistency (α>0.71). Since the internal consistency of subscale items is<0.70, it needs to be further evaluation and development of questionnaire with respect to subscale. In this study it was found that there is a lack of knowledge on oral health awareness among the primary health care provider (ANM/ASHA). Hence there is a need to educate and spread knowledge of proper dental care and to prevent dental disease through motivation, training and education for the health workers to make a healthy individual and healthy society.

Evaluation of Oral Hygiene Awareness, Oral Health Practices and Dental Health Problems among the Undergraduate Medical Students of India

Evaluation of Oral Hygiene Awareness, Oral Health Practices and Dental Health Problems among the Undergraduate Medical Students of India

Evaluating oral hygiene awareness and the differences in gender and socioeconomic status among patients attending for oral prophylaxis

Evaluating oral hygiene awareness and the differences in gender and socioeconomic status among patients attending for oral prophylaxis

Assessment of Oral Hygiene awareness in Geriatric patients attending OPD at ESIC Dental College, Rohini, New Delhi

Assessment of Oral Hygiene awareness in Geriatric patients attending OPD at ESIC Dental College, Rohini, New Delhi

Evaluation of oral-hygiene awareness and practice among dental students

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare oral-health knowledge, attitudes, and self-care practice behaviors among dental students. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was prepared regarding oral-health attitudes and behaviors. The survey was carried out at Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore. Three hundred sixty-seven questionnaires were responded by the dental students (208 clinical and 159 preclinical students). The data were tabulated and analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v.17.0. Chi-square tests were also used. Results: A more significant knowledge (P Conclusion: The outcome of the study is that there is an appreciably high level of knowledge about oral self-care procedures in clinical students than in preclinical undergraduate dental students. There is a need to educate the undergraduate dental students on oral care procedures as soon as they join the BDS course.

Assessment of Levels of Oral Hygiene Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among the Students of a Government School in Karachi

Aims: The object of this study was to assess the levels of oral hygiene awareness, knowledge, and practice of the children of a Govt. school belonging to low socioeconomic class in Karachi, and to attract more of the health promotion programs and campaigns towards these less privileged areas so that awareness regarding oral hygiene and health may be emphasized upon them and encourage them about the benefits of a healthy oral cavity.

Awareness of Oral Hygiene among Children in Chennai

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the attitude and awareness of children towards oral health and dental care as well as to evaluate the factors that determine these variables. Objective: To help spread awareness of oral hygiene among children Background: The foundation for healthy permanent teeth in children and teenagers is laid during the first years of life. Poor diet, poor habits of food intake and inadequate tooth brushing habits during the first 2 years of life have been shown in several studies to be related to tooth decay in children. The development of caries in primary teeth further increases the risk of developing caries in permanent teeth. Therefore it is essential to establish a proper oral hygiene routine early in life to help ensure the development of strong and healthy teeth. Reason: To help children to lead a better life and healthy oral hygiene

Evaluation of oral hygiene awareness and practices among medical students

Background: Oral diseases are major public health concern due to high prevalence and its impact on quality of life. Many studies have shown that lack of knowledge among rural people and negligent behavior among urban people are causes of dental diseases. Hence the present study was conducted to evaluate oral hygiene awareness and dental health problems in medical students. Methods: A Cross sectional study was carried out on 1st MBBS students. All the students (83) present on the day of data collection were included in the study. Data was collected by pretested questionnaire and analyzed using percentages. Results: Awareness among students about oral hygiene was good. All students in our study were brushing the teeth at least daily with toothbrush and paste. Only few students (13.2%) were using fluoride toothpaste and 67.4% were unaware of fluoride content. Nearly all students restrained from Alcohol Consumption and Tobacco Use. About 27.7% students had Pain /Discomfort in Past 12 Months and 18.1% consulted dentist. About 55% students visited dentist in last 5 years and most common reason was toothache. Conclusions: The better result among medical students could be due to their better knowledge and socioeconomic conditions. Developing countries show lack of awareness and poor oral hygiene habits among large sections of the population, increasing the risk of oral health problems. More awareness should be created among general population to improve the oral health.

A questionnaire study about oral hygiene awareness among orthodontic patients

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the oral hygiene awareness among orthodontic patients. Objective: This research aims to find if patients undergoing orthodontic treatment are aware of the probable accumulation of dental plaque and the consequences of it, namely, bad breath, gum disease, and dental decay. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on orthodontic patients from the Department of Orthodontics in Saveetha University. A self-assessed questionnaire was formulated to assess the oral hygiene awareness among orthodontic patients. The questionnaire was pretested to assess its reliability. It was distributed to 100 patients and only completely filled questionnaires were taken for analysis. Results: An average of 44% of the population are aware of the oral hygiene measures. The female population who underwent orthodontic treatment was more aware of the oral hygiene measures compared to men. Conclusion: There is a need to incorporate more oral hygiene programs in future. Extra attention should be given in educating and motivating the patients on oral hygiene practices during orthodontic treatment in a proper manner, which will be helpful to the patients in maintaining their oral hygiene.

Assessment of Oral Hygiene Practices and Awareness of Periodontal-Systemic Health Interrelationship Amongst the Local Population of Kanpur Region – A Cross Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Objective This study was carried out to know the oral hygiene practices and the awareness of periodontal-systemic health inter-relationship amongst the general population of Kanpur region. Materials and Methods A cross sectional epidemiological survey was conducted among the patients reporting to the department of Periodontology, Rama Dental College and Hospital Kanpur U.P. A total of 1000 new patients were selected and a self-constructed questionnaire was presented to them. Oral hygiene status was checked through OHI index and patient's awareness for periodontal-systemic health inter-relationship was assessed by a self made awareness index. Results The results of our study showed limited oral hygiene practices and lack of knowledge for the effect of poor oral hygiene on systemic health amongst the surveyed population. Although 96.5 % of patients reported using brush and toothpaste and most of them (68.5 %) brushed their teeth once daily, only 35.8 % patients replaced their toothbrush within 3 months, a very minimal percentage of subjects (3.2%) were using other methods of oral hygiene and frequency of cleaning tongue daily was found in only 48.5% patients. Out of 1000 patients included, majority paid dental visits on having any problem (84.0%) rather than regular visitors. It was found that majority of the assessed population's (94.7 %) awareness about periodontal-systemic health interrelationship was poor. Conclusion There is an urgent need for comprehensive educational programs to promote good oral hygiene awareness and its impact on systemic health amongst the general population of Kanpur region.

Extent of periodontal awareness and its treatment modalities among medical interns and postgraduates: A questionnaire study

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the awareness of oral hygiene, periodontal disease, and availability of treatment techniques among medical professionals. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 medical professionals randomly selected. Those interviewed included an equal number of medical interns and postgraduates. Each participant was given a self-administered, pretested, multiple choice questionnaire to solve on the spot. The questionnaire is based on information about different terminologies, periodontal diseases their cause, its systemic effects, different treatment techniques used, and newer treatment modalities. The questionnaire consists of 12 questions which are divided under headings such as (1) knowledge about periodontal diseases, (2) knowledge about its association and etiology, (3) awareness about treatment availability. Results: Positive attitude toward periodontal diseases was observed. The level of awareness was marginally higher with postgraduates. The difference was statistically significant among two groups except in case of treatment modality awareness. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS version 15 for windows. Conclusion: Awareness about periodontal diseases, its etiology and association between systemic diseases were observed. However, awareness about periodontal therapy and newer treatment modalities was poor.

Primary Care Dentistry: What and Why of oral health practices of dental OPD attendees from Saurashtra region in Gujarat

Introduction: Oral health and diseases receive little concern in India though their consequences affect the body as a whole. A prerequisite of progress towards optimal oral health is to understand where we stand today. So present study was carried out to evaluate oral hygiene awareness and associate barriers to avail oral health curative services among cross section of patients attending our centre. Materials and Methods: 276 subjects who gave informed consent were included out of 300 in this cross sectional study conducted at dental trust hospital, in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. A pretested, semi structured, self-administered questionnaire was given to each of the participant. Data so collected was calculated in terms of percentages and proportions. Results: 261 (94.5%) subjects were of the view that oral hygiene is mandatory for overall health of the body, whereas hundred ninety-five (70.7%) of the subjects visited a dentist only for symptomatic reasons. 216 (78.3%) of the subjects cleaned their teeth only once in a day and reasons for not brushing teeth twice were being lazy, tired and forgetfulness as mentioned by them. Having no serious dental problem and expensive dental treatment were marked as the major barriers in receiving oral health care services and regular visit to dentist. Conclusion: This study illustrates the peoples’ neglective attitude towards their own oral health. Although majority of the respondents were aware about the necessity to maintain oral hygiene, very few of them translated it into practice. People need to be motivated for positive oral health care seeking behaviour through various campaigns and educational interventions. Key Words: Awareness, Practices, Oral hygiene, Dental health, Gujarat

Impact of verbal, Braille text, and tactile oral hygiene awareness instructions on oral health status of visually impaired children.

Visually impaired children face limitations in interacting with the environment, as they cannot see the facial expression of parents, teachers and cannot perceive social behavior. These children are challenged every day in learning basic life skills and maintenance of oral hygiene being one among them. To evaluate the impact of verbal, braille text, and tactile oral hygiene awareness instructions on oral health status of visually impaired children. One hundred and twenty institutionalized visually impaired children aged 6-16 years were selected and divided into three groups (40 children each). Group I: Verbal and tactile, Group II: Verbal and braille, Group III: Verbal, braille, and tactile. Instructions regarding maintenance of good oral hygiene and brushing technique were explained to all the children, and oral health status of these children using plaque index (Silness and Loe) and gingival index (Loe and Silness) was evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months interval. ANOVA test was used to analyze the intra- and inter-group comparisons and Tukey post-hoc test for multiple group comparisons. Children in all the groups showed reduction in plaque and gingival scores. There was the highest percentage of reduction in plaque scores in Group III (70.6%), and the decrease in gingival scores was the highest in Group II (84%). Severity of dental plaque and gingivitis in visually impaired individuals can be reduced by a controlled and supervised educational program. The combination of all three, i.e., verbal, braille, and tactile mode of oral health educational aids proved to be effective.