Oral Health Beliefs Research Articles

Oral health-related beliefs among a sample of pregnant women in Southwestern Ontario: a descriptive study.

Unfavorable beliefs about oral health and dental treatment during pregnancy can lead to the avoidance of dental care and the underutilization of dental services, adversely affecting adherence to good oral hygiene practices and, consequently, the health of the fetus. This study investigated the commonly held oral health beliefs among pregnant women in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Participants were recruited from the Family Medicine Obstetrics Clinic in London, Ontario, Canada. Eligible participants were pregnant women aged 18 or older, excluding those unwilling to participate. Participants completed a 33-item self-administered questionnaire, including three open-ended questions about oral health beliefs and their impacts on pregnancy, which were analyzed for this study. Thematic analysis in NVivo identified key patterns, while analysis determined the most common beliefs and the degree of diversity in responses. Responses were categorized into sub-themes, and the frequency and percentage of each category were calculated. A total of 130 participants met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 40.7% (n = 46) believed that oral health impacts their child's health, 48.2% (n = 53) believed that dental treatment affects fetal health, and 64.4% (n = 76) believed that pregnancy influences their oral health. Many beliefs regarding oral health during pregnancy regarded infection risks. Participants held negative beliefs about the effects of antibiotics, analgesics, and dental x-rays during pregnancy. Common beliefs about the impacts of pregnancy on oral health included developing conditions, such as tooth sensitivity, caries, and gingivitis, as well as a loss of minerals to the fetus. This study revealed important misconceptions and concerns about oral health and dental treatment among pregnant women in Southwestern Ontario. The findings highlighted the need for enhanced oral health education for pregnant women to address these misconceptions and promote proper care during pregnancy. Healthcare providers are encouraged to focus on dispelling myths, emphasizing the safety of necessary dental treatments, and reinforcing the significance of maintaining good oral health for maternal and fetal well-being.

Cultural Competency in Dental Practice: Navigating the Experiences and Perspectives of Dentists in South Punjab, Pakistan.

Introduction Cultural competence in healthcare embraces the principles of equal access and nondiscriminatory services in healthcare delivery. Dentists as significant healthcare professionals should definitely have the skills needed to diagnose and treat patients' conditions, but it is crucial to also address nontechnical skills such as cross-cultural communication, the ability to empathize, and inclusive-mindedness. Globally, cultural competency training has been included in healthcare educational programs; however, national practices reportedly have revolved around patients' clinical competencies and thus entailed overlooking the cultural dimensions of dental education that include diverse sociocultural factors that influence how dental practices are taught, learned, and delivered. These dimensions encompass elements such as language, communication styles, attitudes toward healthcare, and culturally specific oral health beliefs and behaviors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the experiences and perspectives of dentists practicing in South Punjab regarding cultural competency. Methodology The study employed a qualitative phenomenological approach. Data was collected through purposive sampling techniques utilizing semistructured interview guides. The participants recruited were licensed dentists practicing in dental institutions in South Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 18 dentists were recruited in the study. The interviews were focused on the different aspects of cultural competency by exploring the perspectives of dentists. Thematic analysis was carried out utilizing the Bran and Clarkes framework to categorize data into key themes and subthemes utilizing inductive coding. Results The study revealed that dentists lack awareness and understanding of cultural competency; they also faced significant problems due to limited cultural proficiency while dealing with diverse patients. Major challenges included inadequate training, communication barriers, and cultural bias in dentists while dealing with such diverse populations. Patients recognized the benefits of cultural competency and highlighted facilitators like institution support, peer support, mentorship support, and patient trust.Participants suggested incorporating cultural competency in dentistry curricula, continuous professional development, and community outreach programs for the development of cultural competency among dentists. Conclusions The study highlighted perspectives and experiences of dentists regarding cultural competency. The findings demonstrated key problems due to limited or lack of cultural proficiency that included communication and language barriers and unconscious cultural bias among dentists. The study also highlighted facilitators of cultural competency like institutional facilitation, mentoring opportunities from peers and seniors, and patient trust. Facilitating cultural competency among dentists may result in improved patient satisfaction, enhanced patient care, and an increase in compliance, hence overall enhancing the quality of care.

Exploration of oral hygiene practices, oral health status, and related quality of life of individuals residing in the Rorya district of Tanzania, East Africa.

Oral health substantially impacts individuals' quality of life, making it an important target for global health interventions. This research describes oral health status, practices, and beliefs within the Rorya district of Tanzania to understand barriers to care. To quantify physical oral health status, intraoral examinations were conducted on adults, noting the Decayed Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Comprehensive Periodontal Inflammatory Burden Index (CPBI). Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) and semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand oral hygiene behaviors and beliefs. Data was analyzed via two-sample t-tests, Pearson's statistics, and NVIVO. A purposive sample (n = 139) of participants self-reported to reside in either Burere (n = 32), Nyambogo (n = 52), or Roche (n = 55) were assessed. A two-sample t-test revealed females (n = 67; x¯ = 7.1; SD = 5.4; p < 0.05) have a significantly higher DMFT score than males (n = 72; x¯ = 3.7; SD = 3.9). Moreover, the OHRQoL score of females (n = 67; x¯ = 12.10; SD = 14; p < 0.05) were significantly higher than males (n = 72; x¯ = 10.16; SD = 3). In contrast, males have significantly higher CPBI scores (x¯ = 3.8; SD = 1.5; p=<0.05) than females (x¯ = 3.0; SD = 1.3). Additionally, older age groups presented higher GI and PISA scores, while the younger group (20-30 years) displayed the highest mean DMFT score. The themes that emerged from semi-structured interviews were "pearls of laughter guarded by wisdom teeth," "whispered tales of oral tides and communal echoes," and "tales of the tooth fairy." In this community, proper oral health maintenance techniques are vital yet frequently disregarded, mainly due to disparities in access to resources, reflected in oral health scores. Addressing this is a crucial intervention, presenting an opportunity to uplift overall well-being. Moreover, gender and age disparities in oral health highlight the urgent need for tailored interventions.

Oral Health Literacy Status, Knowledge Levels, Beliefs, and Behaviors of Pregnant Women.

Pregnancy may exacerbate the frequency and severity of some dental problems. However, most pregnant women avoid going to the dentist. To examine the oral hygiene and dental care behaviors of women during pregnancy, to measure their knowledge levels, to reveal their oral and dental health literacy status, and their beliefs about treatment. The study was conducted for a period of 1 month with pregnant women over the age of 18 who presented to the obstetrics outpatient clinic and agreed to participate in the study and who had no known anomalies or complications. A survey was completed by face-to-face interviews with 317 pregnant women of different ages and gestational weeks. Participants were asked questions regarding their sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy characteristics, oral hygiene-related beliefs, behaviors, and knowledge levels. The data obtained in the study were analyzed with SPSS 21.0 program. Since the kurtosis and skewness values were between +3 and -3, parametric tests were used. In total, 317 pregnant women between the ages of 18 and 43 participated in the study. The most common beliefs are listed as; babies receive the necessary calcium from the teeth, antibiotics given during dental treatment harm the baby, and panoramic radiography taken during treatment harms the baby. 91.5% of the participants did not visit the dentist after planning a pregnancy, and 89% of them did not visit the dentist during pregnancy. The most common reason not to visit the dentist is not having a dental problem. The rate of knowing that dental infections during pregnancy will affect the baby is 50.5%. In the present study, it is seen that pregnant women do not have adequate oral hygiene. The reasons were listed as various false beliefs and lack of sufficient knowledge. Health professionals should provide information about oral hygiene to pregnant women and direct them to the dentist.

Virtue of courage as modulator in interactions among oral health beliefs, oral hygiene habits and dietary preferences.

The impact of virtue of courage as mediating and moderating variable in interactions of oral health beliefs with oral hygiene habits and dietary preferences is of interest. A total of 100 patients with a complain of periodontal ailments and dental caries were enrolled from dental institute. 40 items belonging to character strengths of psychological virtue of courage in values in action Inventory of Strength (VIA-IS) Questionnaire and 15 Oral Health Belief Questionnaire items were recorded. Oral hygiene habits and dietary preferences congruent with oral health were also recorded. A significant positive correlation was observed in the following variables: barriers/gender (correlation coefficient =.212, P =.034) There was positive correlation between perseverance and nutritional preferences (correlation coefficient = .239, P =.017); courage and nutritional preferences (correlation coefficient = .241, P = .016). Virtue of courage and its character strengths have significant positive impact over dietary preferences congruent with oral health. Inculcation of character strengths belonging to courage as virtue may have the potential to modulate compliance to oral health beliefs and consequently oral health.

Oral health literacy, knowledge, practice and beliefs among Asian Americans: A scoping review.

The Asian American (AsA) population is at high risk for poor oral health outcomes and remains an underserved and understudied community. Low oral health literacy could explain poor oral health behaviours, practices and outcomes in this population. The aims were as follows: (i) provide a scoping review of oral health literacy, knowledge, practice and beliefs among AsA individuals residing in the United States; (ii) identify any instruments or tools translated into participants' language and (iii) determine whether the translated instruments had been assessed for validity and reliability. The current study used a scoping review framework based on PRISMA-ScR that included rigorous eligibility criteria, search strategy, independent selection process with adjudication, and standardized reporting of outcomes. The search was conducted on March 14, 2022, and updated on February 25, 2023 and February 13, 2024, in the following databases: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and CINAHL. Peer-reviewed original research on oral health literacy, knowledge, awareness, practice, and beliefs related to oral health care in AsA subgroups published in English were included. Two reviewers independently assessed whether titles and abstracts should be included for review, with discrepancies adjudicated by a third reviewer. Data extracted from articles used a standard template that included study design, and measurement tools of oral health, knowledge, awareness, practice and beliefs, as well as results and conclusions of the publication. In addition, the template captured whether the translated and original measurement tools were assessed for reliability and validity. Of the 367 papers identified, 10 studies that met eligibility criteria were included in the final review. Of these, four studies used previously validated tools to assess oral health measurements in AsA. Only five of the studies translated the tools into the participants' native language. Although AsA exhibited lower oral health literacy than Whites but higher than Hispanics and African Americans, none of the translated tools were assessed for reliability and validity. Acculturation and country of birth were factors influencing oral health behaviours related to good oral health practice and utilization, with AsA born in the United States exhibiting higher oral health utilization than those born in their country of origin. Oral health beliefs played a significant role in dental care utilization among AsA populations. The scoping review on oral health in Asian American communities identifies a significant research gap, particularly in the lack of validated tools for assessing oral health literacy, which varies across ethnic groups. It notes that AsA generally have lower oral health literacy compared to Whites, but higher than Hispanics and African Americans. AsA born in the United States shows better oral health practices, influenced by acculturation and birth country. The findings emphasize the need for more thorough and culturally adapted research methods to address oral health disparities in this diverse group.

Quality of orthodontic care-Amulticenter cohort study in aGerman convenience sample : Part2: Cross-sectional patient-reported outcomes after orthodontic treatment.

In light of the growing interest in orthodontic care and its effectiveness in Germany, part2 of this multicenter cohort study evaluated patient-reported outcomes such as oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), oral hygiene habits, oral health beliefs, and potential influencing factors. Of 586 patients screened from seven German study centers, data from 343 patients were analyzed for this part of the study. At the end of their orthodontic treatment, study participants filled out aquestionnaire of either the German long version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G49) or the German short version of the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP-19), depending on their age, as well as questions about their oral hygiene behavior and beliefs. Patient-, treatment- and occlusion-related factors were analyzed to account for potential influencing factors with regard to patients' OHRQoL after orthodontic treatment. In all, 222 study participants filled out the OHIP-based and 121 the COHIP-based questionnaire. The mean OHIP-G49 score was 12.68 and the mean OHIP-G14 score was 3.09; the mean COHIP-19 score was 6.52 (inverted score 69.48). For OHIP-G49 scores, anonsignificant trend towards ahigher score for male patients (14.45 vs 11.54; p = 0.061) was detected, while this trend was inverse for the COHIP-19 scores, i.e., female patients reported more impairment (total score 6.99 vs. 5.84; p = 0.099). Analyses suggested atrend towards better OHRQoL for patients who classified for the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) Index improvement rate group 'greatly improved' as well as for nonsmokers. Oral hygiene habits and beliefs after orthodontic treatment were estimated to be good. In this German cohort, OHRQoL proved to be good and was rather unimpaired after orthodontic treatment. Furthermore, self-reported oral hygiene behavior and oral health beliefs represented good health awareness.

Contextual and individual factors associated with traumatic dental injuries in deprived 12-year-old schoolchildren: A cohort study.

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) among children and adolescents have been acknowledged as of public health concern worldwide. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between contextual and individual characteristics and TDIs in 12-year-old schoolchildren. A cohort study was conducted with 355 schoolchildren living in deprived communities in the city of Manaus, Brazil. Contextual factors (place of residence and socio-economic indicators) and individual characteristics, including sex, family income, parents/guardians years of schooling, overjet and open bite (Dental Aesthetic Index), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), sense of coherence (Sense of Coherence Scale), oral health beliefs, social support (Social Support Appraisals) were assessed at baseline. TDIs were measured at baseline and at 2-year follow-up using the O'Brien Index. Data were analysed through confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The baseline prevalence of TDIs was 17.6% and the incidence of TDIs at 2-year follow-up was 26.8%. Better psychosocial status had a direct protective effect on the incidence of TDIs (β = -.184). Better contextual characteristics (β = -.135) and greater overjet (β = -.203) were directly associated with poor psychosocial status. Higher schooling of parents/guardians directly predicted better psychosocial status (β = .154). Psychosocial status mediated the relationship of greater overjet (β = .036), contextual factors (β = .024) and parental/guardian schooling (β = -.027) with TDIs. Contextual factors and individual characteristics predicted TDIs. Psychosocial status was a relevant individual attribute in the causal network of TDIs, due to the direct effect on the incidence of TDIs as well as a mediator on the influence of contextual factors, overjet and parents/guardians schooling on the incidence of TDIs.

The Relationship between Oral Health Preventive Management and Oral Health Belief of among Health College Students

Objectives: This study examined the relationship between oral health belief and oral health preventive management among health college students. The study also determined if oral disease recognition is related to oral health preventive management. Methods: A survey was of 385 health-related college students in Chungcheongnam-do was conducted to determine the relationship between oral health preventive management and oral health belief. t-teat, ANOVA, correlation and regression analysis were conducted. Results: Differences in oral health belief and the use of oral supplementary hygiene products were noted as 2.14 for “using” oral supplementary hygiene products and 2.43 for “not using” (p&lt;0.01). The effect of oral health belief on oral hygiene product awareness was in the order of disability, importance, and benefit (p&lt;0.01). Conclusions: To prevent oral diseases and manage oral health, regular oral examinations to assess for oral diseases and to provide continuous oral education, raise awareness of various oral hygiene products, increase the importance and benefits of oral health preventive management, and reduce disability through continuous feedback.

Perspectives of Pregnant Women’s Infant Oral Health Knowledge and Beliefs: A Prenatal Survey

Background: Early childhood caries is a virulent form of dental caries that can destroy the primary dentition of infants and preschool children. ECC is a preventable disease and prevention should begin in pre and perinatal. Mothers with poor oral health may be at greater risk of infecting their children. Biologically, the mother is the primary source of Streptococci and young children are dependent on their mother for oral hygiene. Aim: So, it’s essential to explore pregnant women and nursing mothers' knowledge, attitude, and practices as they affect the dental care children receive. Methodology: A survey was presented which was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of pregnant women regarding infant’s oral health. A survey was conducted in and around Vellore at a government and private maternity hospital among pregnant women and new mothers. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of a total of 41 questions concerning basic information on proper infant oral hygiene procedures was given. A statistical analysis was performed. Results: A greater percentage of women were unaware of the importance of their oral hygiene, infant feeding practices and oral hygiene procedures. Conclusion: Based on these results there is a need for education for mothers and would-be mothers.

Cultural factors and family influences on adolescent oral health: qualitative research in a socially disadvantaged population.

This qualitative study sought to assess the influence of cultural factors and family on oral health behaviour of 12- to 15-year-old adolescents from the socially disadvantaged population. A qualitative design was developed with focus group discussions (FGDs) among 12- to 15-year-old adolescents. Four focus groups (n = 32 participants) were created from a selected sample to capture oral health beliefs and practices, oral health-seeking behaviour along with other relevant information. Focus group discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and translated. Data were analysed thematically and structural coding was applied. Three key themes that emerged from FGDs were importance of oral health; role of family in oral health behaviour; and beliefs influencing access, prevention and treatment of oral diseases. Cultural background, family values and beliefs were imperative in moulding the behaviour of adolescents towards oral health. The use of traditional oral hygiene aides was a norm in this population. Findings of the study provide greater insights into the authoritative role of family and cultural barriers in the uptake of dental services. The study also highlights the potential value of qualitative research and emphasizes the need to integrate oral health-associated cultural beliefs and attitudes of the adolescents towards a wider evidence base.

Assessment of Oral Health Beliefs &amp; Oral Hygiene Practices Among Tribal Gypsies in Tamil Nadu

Introduction: Oral health beliefs and practices have changed over the years for humans. Despite adequate advancements in global oral health, problems persist in many communities worldwide, particularly among the underprivileged. The tribal gypsies are one among the underprivileged group without any knowledge of oral health &amp; hygiene. The present study explores oral health beliefs and behavior among the tribal gypsies of Tamil Nadu. Aim &amp; objectives: The objective of the present study was to assess the oral health beliefs and behavior among the tribal gypsies of Tamil Nadu. Materials and methods: The list of tribal gypsy colonies was obtained from the " Department of tribal welfare," and tribal gypsy colonies of certain areas in Tamil Nadu were identified for the study. A total of 458 subjects were selected. Informed consent was obtained from each participant, and ethical approval was obtained from the Research and Ethical Committee / IRB. The survey instrument, a questionnaire, was designed and reviewed many times to produce a questionnaire that would be friendly and easy to follow. Results: The perceived severity and perceived benefits are high, and the perceived barriers and perceived importance are low, which increases the cues for action and increased participation. Conclusion: The study results suggest that the tribal gypsies might have favorable compliance for oral health promotional programs. Further research is needed to investigate the oral health of the various ethnic tribes of Tamil Nadu.

Oral Health Beliefs, Perceptions and Utilisation of Oral Health Care Services among the Indigenous People (Orang Asli) in Pahang, Malaysia: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Orang Asli refers to the indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia, representing 0.6% of the Malaysian population. Vast inequality was observed regarding oral health beliefs, behaviour, and utilisation of oral health services between the Orang Asli and non-Orang Asli. The aim of the study was to explore the oral health beliefs, perceptions, and oral health service utilization behaviour among Orang Asli in the district of Bera, Pahang, Malaysia. Methods: Orang Asli’s oral health beliefs and perceptions of oral healthcare service were ascertained through four FGDs. Nineteen participants from Bera’s semi-urban and rural Orang Asli communities were convened. Emerging themes from the qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Orang Asli believed that oral health is essential for an individual’s function and aesthetics. They are also aware that inadequate oral hygiene care will result in tooth decay and gum disease. Most of the Orang Asli that chewed betel nuts believed that limestone paste could cause oral cancer. The main barriers to Orang Asli accessing oral healthcare services were time constraints and distance to the nearby clinic. Conclusion: The Orang Asli believed oral health care is essential in ensuring a healthy oral condition. Despite their generational belief towards traditional healers and medication, Orang Asli in Bera had a perceived positive acceptance towards oral healthcare services.

The association between malocclusion and health-related quality of life in adolescents: A mediation analysis.

This study investigated the role of oral health-related functional limitations and social well-being, self-perceived health, psychosocial factors, and social support in mediating the impact of malocclusion on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A school-based 6-month cohort study was conducted with 376 12-year-old deprived adolescents. Measures at baseline included malocclusion (DAI score), dental caries, sociodemographic characteristics, psychosocial traits (self-esteem, sense of coherence, oral health beliefs), and social support. The oral health-related functional limitations and symptoms (social well-being) domains of the CPQ11-14 , self-perceived health, and HRQoL (Kiddo-KINDL) were evaluated at the 6-month follow-up. Associations between observed and latent variables (social support, psychosocial factors, and HRQoL) were evaluated using structural equation modelling, according to the Wilson and Cleary theoretical model. Malocclusion was indirectly associated with worse HRQoL, mediated by functional limitations, social well-being, and self-perceived health. Better psychosocial status was directly associated with better HRQoL, and higher social support was indirectly associated with better HRQoL via psychosocial factors. Dental caries experience, female sex, and lower family income were indirectly associated with worse HRQoL. The impact of malocclusion on HRQoL was mediated by oral health-related functional limitations, social well-being, and self-perceived health. Sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, and social support also impacted HRQoL.

Oral health during pregnancy: an analysis of interprofessional guideline awareness and practice behaviors among prenatal and oral health providers

BackgroundPoor oral health during pregnancy has significant implications across the life course, including increased risk for adverse pregnancy, birth outcomes, and the development of early childhood caries. In efforts to improve perinatal oral health in the United States, a set of national interprofessional guidelines were developed that include recommended practice behaviors for both oral health providers and prenatal providers. The purpose of this study was to examine guideline awareness, familiarity, beliefs, and practice behaviors among both provider types.MethodsPrenatal providers and oral health providers in Florida were recruited via random and convenience sampling to complete an online survey guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and the Cabana Framework. The present analysis focused on the Individuals Involved domain (CFIR), awareness and familiarity with the guidelines (Cabana Framework), confidence, and practice behaviors as recommended by prenatal oral health guidelines (assess, advise, refer, share/coordinate). Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, independent samples t-tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and analyses were conducted in SPSS.ResultsPrenatal and oral health providers did not differ significantly in their awareness of the guidelines, but awareness was significantly associated with three of the four practice behaviors for prenatal providers. Familiarity with the guidelines was significantly higher among oral health providers and was associated with all four practice behaviors for both provider types. Five out of ten oral health belief items were significantly associated with practicing the guidelines among prenatal providers, but only two among oral health providers. Confidence in performing the practice behaviors was significantly associated with guideline implementation among both groups. Years in practice was significantly associated with performing practice behaviors for prenatal providers, but not for oral health providers.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the importance of professional organizations and the role of clinical guidelines on practice behaviors. Although provider education is a key implementation strategy, organizational and policy-level system changes could also be critical in supporting practice behaviors.

일부 성인의 주관적 구강건강상태 및 신념과 구강관리용품 사용의 관련성

Objectives: The purpose is to comprehensively investigate and analyze an association between subjective oral health, beliefs and use of oral care products in some adults to increase interest in oral health care in the future, helping oral health professionals develop educational programs and recommend the use of oral care products. Methods: From July 11th to August 19th, 2022, some adults were self-entered using an online survey. Results: There is a significant an association between subjective oral health, beliefs and use of oral care products in some adults Conclusions: In order to have oral health behavior, we propose to provide a program that can create the right oral health belief in various aspects.

Evaluation of the Behavioral Determinants of Infant Oral Hygiene Practices in a Rural Area.

Background Dental caries is one of the most common oral health diseases in children. Early childhood caries (ECC) in children can lead to delayed overall growth in the future. This can be prevented by early initiation of infant oral hygiene practices (IOHP). As mothers are the primary caregivers, assessing their behavioral factors that play a significant role in IOHPcan help design a customized health prevention plan for appropriate infant oral hygiene practices. Methodology A questionnaire based-study was carried out in an Anganwadi(rural child care center in India) of Nagpur region,Central India, for two months. Parents of young children were interviewed about the oral health care of children. The study was planned to evaluate the various methods used by parents to perform IOHP and to identify various behavioral determinants that affect IOHP. An integrative model of behavior change was used to evaluate factors determining the behavioral determinants in performing oral hygiene. Results Out of 144 parents, 105 (72.92%) initiated IOHP immediately after birth. Most of them (76, 52.78%) used a moist cloth to clean the oral cavity. The other methods used were the parent's finger, water, etc. Most of the parents were unaware of commercially available oral wipes.Out of the various factors of behavioral determinants of integrative theory, oral health beliefs, emotional reactions, self-standard, and skills played a significant role in modifying parents' intention to maintain the oral hygiene of young children. There was a direct correlation between the educational qualification of the mother and oral hygiene practices. Conclusion The results of this study reveal an integrative structure that includes factors like oral health beliefs, emotional reactions, self-standard, external support, social norms, and skills that are responsible for the behavior of parents towards oral health care. These factors vary from individual to individual. Modifying these specific behavioral determinants in parents could improve the oral hygiene practices of infants and toddlers. Community-based oral health care programs should be tailormade to target these specific barriers.

Patterns of Change in Parental Health Literacy in Relation to Children's Oral Health.

Although health literacy (HL) skills may change over time, most research treats HL as a constant, using baseline HL to predict other health-related constructs. Few studies have explored change in HL over time. We examined person-level differences in HL trajectories. We identified subgroups (latent classes) based on longitudinal assessments of HL and examined the association of class membership with demographic and oral health variables. We used four measurement waves of parental HL data, reflecting the risk of limited HL, collected as part of an intervention to reduce dental decay in American Indian children (N = 579 parent-child dyads at baseline). Repeated measures latent class analysis (RMLCA) models were estimated to identify subgroups of HL trajectories over time. We examined class membership in association with baseline demographics and with 36-month assessments of parental oral health knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors as well as pediatric oral health. A four-class model best fit the data. The largest class (high HL; 49.7% of the sample) was characterized by high levels of HL at all waves. A second class (improving HL; 17.7%) improved over all waves. The remaining two classes were characterized as moderate HL (20%) and low HL (12.6%) and maintained relatively stable HL levels over time. Higher educational attainment was associated with membership in the high HL and improving HL classes. Older age among this young-adult sample and higher income also were associated with high HL class membership. Parents in the high HL and improving HL classes exhibited more favorable performance on measures of oral health knowledge, beliefs, and behavioral adherence than did those in the other classes. Class membership was not associated with pediatric oral health. RMLCA demonstrated person-level variability in HL trajectories. Longitudinal patterns were associated with baseline demographics and prospectively with parental oral health knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors, but not with pediatric oral health. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2023;7(2):e89-e98.].

The Mediating Effect of Perceived Oral Symptoms on the Relationship between Oral Health Beliefs and Oral Health-related Quality of Life of Hotel Workers

The Mediating Effect of Perceived Oral Symptoms on the Relationship between Oral Health Beliefs and Oral Health-related Quality of Life of Hotel Workers

Personality traits, oral health beliefs, and periodontal parameters in patients with periodontitis.

Recognising the construct of the Big Five personality factors with health beliefs could help in better evaluation of distinctive factors that may impact a patient's behavioural responses with reference to compliance to primary and secondary preventive measures in periodontitis. The aim of the present study is to explore association among the personality traits, oral health beliefs, and periodontal parameters in patients with periodontitis. The present single centred, cross-sectional study consists of 118 systemically healthy participants with Generalised Periodontitis: stage II and III with grade B. NEO-FFI-3 instrument was applied to assess personality traits (Neuroticism (N), Extraversion (E), Openness to experience (O), Agreeableness (A), and Conscientiousness(C). The Oral Health Belief Questionnaire was administered to determine five oral health beliefs namely-: 1) perceived seriousness (PS), 2) benefit of preventative practices (BPP), 3) benefit of plaque control (BPC), 4) efficacy of clinicians (EC), and 5) perceived importance (I). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that BPP and BPC are inversely correlated with N. EC is positively correlated with the personality traits O, A, and C whereas it is inversely correlated with N. Binomial logistic regression showed that the predictor 'very low' and 'low' levels of C are positive and significant of CAL (clinical attachment loss) =4.89mm (b=1.90, 1.55 SE= 0.70, 0.72, p=0.007, 0.033) with odds ratio (OR=6.73(95%CI=1.68-26.95), and 4.75(95%CI= 1.13-19.83). Intensity of an individual's perception of benefits of clinicians in achieving dental health is directly correlated with levels of C. Trends of higher odds ratio for CAL were observed with decreasing level of C.