Self-preventive oral behavior in an Italian university student population

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior Among Health Professions' Students at Kabul University of Medical Sciences

Background

Numerous investigations have revealed that oral issues are quite common among young Afghans. Knowledge, attitudes, and behavior are the three oral health-related population dimensions that need to be assessed in order to design effective public health awareness programs.

Objective

The study's goal was to find out how much health professions' students at Kabul University of Medical Sciences knew about oral health, as well as their attitudes and behaviors toward dental health and oral hygiene routines.

Materials and Methods

From September 2022 to December 2022, cross-sectional research was conducted at Kabul University of Medical Sciences. A total of 496 health professions' students (312 females and 184 males) aged 18-25 years old from 5 colleges of health and medical-related disciplines were addressed. All participants were given a thorough questionnaire with 30 amended items modified from Peterson et al and Stenberg et al.

Results

44.5% (n=220) of the participants brushed their teeth twice per day, 41.3% (n=204) once per day, and 9.31% (n=46) more than twice per day, while just 4.7% (n=23) cleaned their teeth less than once per day. Surprisingly, the majority of participants (91% or n=451) were aware of the significance of routine dental visits, and 51.3% (n=252) of participants reported visiting the dentist while they experienced pain. 94% of students were of the opinion that brushing their teeth prevents dental decay. 93% (n=461) of them agreed that using fluoride strengthens teeth, and 96% (n=476) said that sweets are bad for teeth.

Conclusion

Oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours are related to an individual's level of education. Female and generally dental professions' participants, rather than other health professions participants, were more likely to be concerned about their oral health than male participants.

Oral health profile and periodontal diseases awareness and knowledge among the jordanian population: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To explore the oral health profile and periodontal diseases awareness and knowledge among the Jordanian population. In addition, we aimed to identify predictors of good knowledge of periodontal diseases.

METHOD

This was an online cross-sectional survey study that was conducted in Jordan between January and May 2022. A total of 13 item from the world health organisation (WHO) oral health questionnaire for adults were used to examine the oral health profile of our study participants. In addition, a previously developed questionnaire by Abdulbaqi et al. were adapted and used to examine participants' knowledge about periodontal diseases. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of better knowledge of periodontal diseases.

RESULTS

This study involved 1,099 participants in total. More than half of them (61.1%) claimed that throughout the previous 12 months, they had experienced pain or discomfort in their mouths or teeth. Nearly half of the participants said their teeth and gums were in good or very good condition. 70.7% said they brush their teeth once or more per day. The vast majority of them (93.0%) claimed to brush their teeth using toothpaste that contained 61.9% fluoride. The most frequent cited cause for dental visits was pain or difficulty with teeth, gums, or mouth (36.3%), according to almost one-third of study participants who said they had visited a dentist during the previous six months. The most commonly reported problems that occurs frequently due to the state of the participants' teeth or mouth were avoiding smiling because of teeth, feeling embarrassed due to appearance of teeth, and having difficulty in biting foods with 11.0%, 10.2%, and 9.0%, respectively. Tea with sugar (16.5%) was the most frequently reported beverage as being consumed frequently on a daily basis. The most popular tobacco product to be smoked often on a daily basis was cigarettes (21.6%). For periodontitis knowledge questions, the percentage of accurate responses ranged from 32.3 to 55.8%. The majority of participants (55.8%) were able to recognize that poor oral hygiene is one of the most frequent causes of malodor, whereas the least number of participants (32.3%) were able to recognize that improper teeth brushing is a frequent cause of gingival recession.

CONCLUSION

The average degree of periodontitis knowledge among Jordanians was moderate. Along with it, there were modest oral hygiene practices. In order to prevent further oral complications that have a detrimental influence on patients' quality of life, educational campaigns are required to increase public awareness of knowledge and practices in terms of proper oral hygiene and periodontitis.

Are oral health behaviors associated with metabolic syndrome in the Azar cohort population?

OBJECTIVE

Considering the rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), this study aimed to investigate the relationship between MetS and its components with oral and dental health in the adult population of the Azar cohort.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study oral health care behaviors, DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index, and demographic data related to 15,006 patients (5112 in the MetS group and 9894 in the healthy group) of the Azar Cohort population aging from 35 to 70 were collected using appropriate questionnaires. The definition of MetS was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. Then, the risk factors of MetS related to oral health behaviors were determined by proper statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The majority of MetS patients were female (66%) and uneducated (23%) (P < 0.001). In the MetS group, the DMFT index (22.15 ± 8.89) was significantly (p < 0.001) higher (20.81 ± 8.94) than the no MetS group. Not brushing at all was associated with increased odds of MetS (unadjusted OR = 1.12, adjusted OR = 1.18). Flossing less than once a day was associated with increased odds of abdominal obesity (unadjusted OR = 1.17, 95%CI = 1.03-1.32) and hyperglycemia (unadjusted OR = 1.88, 95%CI = 1.61-2.20).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that in MetS patients of the Azar cohort study, oral hygiene was worse compared to that in the no MetS group. Further studies are suggested to encourage oral hygiene among the general population which has more beneficiary effects than has been known before.

Tooth brushing practice in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Oral hygiene refers to taking care and maintaining the cleanness of gum and teeth; a good oral hygiene practice promotes better oral health in general. Oral hygiene is the top public health concern of the population. Tooth brushing is a technique to keep oral hygiene from related complications. Therefore, this study provides the pooled prevalence of tooth brushing practice in Ethiopia. Databases searched for articles systematically across PubMed, Google Scholar, Hinari, EMBASE, and African Journals Online. Two reviewers independently conducted the selection, screening, reviewing, and data extraction using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and used the Joanna Briggs Institute prevalence critical appraisal tools to assess the quality of evidence. All studies conducted in Ethiopia from 2010 to 2020, reporting tooth-brushing practices extracted for and imported into the Comprehensive meta-analysis version 3.0 for further analysis. Beggs and Eggers's tests evaluated for publication bias with Higgins's method evaluated for heterogeneity. A random-effects meta-analysis model with a 95% confidence interval was computed to estimate the pooled effect size (prevalence). Furthermore, the authors employed subgroup analysis based on the study area and sample size. After reviewing 36, 10 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of tooth brushing practice was 12.2% (95% CI 7.6-19.2%). The review reported a lower level of tooth-brushing practice in Ethiopia. We recommended that special attention should be given to the oral hygiene of the Ethiopian people.

The role of correlated factors based on Pender health promotion model in brushing behavior in the 13-16 years old students of Guilan, Iran

Background

Tooth decay is one of the diseases that is closely related to people’s behaviors and it can have adverse effects on their performance and their success in the future. Brushing twice a day is the simplest and most effective way to reduce tooth decay. The study aim was to determining the roles of correlational factors based on the Pender’s health promotion model in brushing behavior of ninth grade students at urban public schools of Guilan province during the academic year 2019.

Methods

The present study was cross-sectional and had a descriptive-analytical type. We performed the multi-stage random sampling on 761 ninth-grade students (374 girls and 387 boys) at urban public schools of six counties (ten cities) of Guilan province in 2019. The primary tool was a questionnaire on oral health behaviors focusing on brushing behavior. In the present study, which was conducted only on brushing behavior, we revised and changed the initial questionnaire during the sessions of the research team, and then confirmed its validity and reliability. The questionnaire consisted of three parts, demographic characteristics, constructs of health promotion model, and brushing behavior. We analyzed data in SPSS 21 using regression models.

Results

20.1% of students brushed their teeth at least twice a day. Optimal behavior had a statistically significant relationship with parents’ education level, and gender. Based on the regression model, the health promotion model constructs described 58% of the variance of the commitment to plan of action. Perceived self-efficacy, situational influences, and perceived barriers of action had significantly stronger relationships with commitment to plan of action respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that one-unit increase in scores of commitment to plan of action and self-efficacy increased the chance of desired behavior by 12 and 14% respectively.

Conclusion

Due to the low rate of brushing behavior in the students and the predictive power of the health promotion model in brushing behavior, we suggest planning and implementation of educational interventions for this group with an emphasis on influencing the commitment to plan of action, self-efficacy, and also the level of knowledge.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13052-021-01063-y.

Oral Health-Related Risk Factors Among Students in Southeast Serbia

Background

An association between insufficient or irregular oral hygiene with the occurrence of dental caries, gingival/periodontal diseases, and consequently general diseases has been established.

The null hypothesis that there is no difference in the oral health status among students in a preclinical medical program and those who went through a clinical medical program was tested. The main objective of the study was to analyze oral health risk factors (oral hygiene practices, attitudes, and behavior) as well as their impact on oral health by using convenience sampling.

Material/Methods

We investigated risk factors for oral health conditions by examining oral hygiene practices, attitudes, and behaviors among the students in the medical program of the University of Niš, collecting data using questionnaires. The study included 396 students of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and vocational studies. Participants filled out the anonymous questionnaire.

Results

In both groups, parents were mostly employed, with the representation of employed fathers significantly higher in student group 1 (P<0.05), which is also the only statistically significant difference between the groups. In terms of oral hygiene practices, students were most often trained by parents (68.69%). A very high percentage of students brushed their teeth every day (97.22%), and 54.55% did this twice a day. Of the total number of students, 78.28% thought that it was necessary to use interdental brushes/floss/toothpick. The duration of teeth cleaning was 3 minutes in 39.39%, whereas 55.30% thought that it should be longer than 3 minutes. The most common brushing movements were combined movements and were used by 60.35% of all students. Of all students, 253 (63.89%) never smoked, 182 (49.96%) regularly went to the dentist, and 141 (35.61%) visited the dentist 6 months ago. The majority of students, 265 (66.92%), obtained the greatest amount of information about oral and tooth care from their dentist, which was the case in both age groups.

Conclusions

This study highlights oral health risk factors among students at the University of Niš. It is essential to determine their oral health knowledge, as it is of great significance both to patients and to students. Also, these students will be the major providers of health services and will be responsible for public oral health promotion. It could help in reformation of the oral health education program. The results of this research indicate that it is necessary to educate preclinical students to solve oral health issues.

Association between the Frequency of Daily Toothbrushing and Development of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background &amp; Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the association between the frequency of daily toothbrushing and the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS

A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted from 2005 to 2012 at the Center for Preventive Medicine at St. Luke's International Hospital, Japan. Data on all participants who underwent a health checkup during the study period were collected. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography, and all participants who were diagnosed with NAFLD at the time of their initial visit, consumed alcohol in any amount, or had received only one health checkup were excluded. The questionnaire for the frequency of daily toothbrushing was conducted as part of health checkups. The primary outcome was the risk of developing NAFLD according to the frequency of daily toothbrushing (1-2 times a day or 3 times a day) compared to those who brush teeth once or less than once a day.

RESULTS

Data were collected from 25,804 people. A total of 3,289 (12.7%) participants developed NAFLD. The mean age was 45.2 years, and 6,901 (26.7%) of the participants were male. The risk of developing NAFLD significantly decreased with increased frequency of daily toothbrushing. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) are as follows: brushing teeth 1-2 times a day (OR: 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.77-0.95) and 3 times a day (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.67-0.82).

CONCLUSION

Frequent toothbrushing was shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing NAFLD.

Effectiveness of a theory of planned behavior-based intervention for promoting periodontal preventive behaviors among medical students in Taiwan

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of an oral self-care education intervention based on the Theory of Planned Behavior in Taiwanese undergraduates.

PARTICIPANTS

We recruited 63 and 90 students in the experimental group (EG) and comparison group (CG), respectively, from a medical university.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental design was employed. The EG received health education and a brief action and coping planning intervention.

RESULTS

The EG was significantly more likely to brush for more than 3 minutes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.52), use the modified Bass brushing technique (aOR = 7.81), and floss (aOR = 21.21) at the 2-week follow-up than was the CG. At the 6-week follow-up, the combined effect of high action and coping planning with high perceived power for predicting floss use was observed in the EG (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Intervention may promote periodontal-disease-preventing behaviors in undergraduates, particularly for achieving adherence to daily flossing.

Translating mouthwash use for gonorrhoea prevention into a public health campaign: identifying current knowledge and research gaps

The gonorrhoea rate among gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (MSM) has been increasing rapidly in many Western countries. Furthermore, gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics and only limited options remain for treatment. Recent evidence suggests that the oropharynx may play an important role in gonorrhoea transmission. It is hypothesised that reducing the prevalence of oropharyngeal gonorrhoea will also reduce the population incidence of gonorrhoea. Mouthwash has been proposed as a novel non-antibiotic intervention to prevent oropharyngeal gonorrhoea; hence, reducing the probability of antibiotic resistance developing. However, its efficacy is yet to be confirmed by a randomised controlled trial - the findings of which will be available in 2019. If the trial shows mouthwash is effective in preventing gonorrhoea, this finding could potentially be translated into a public health campaign to increase the mouthwash use in the MSM population. This article summarises the current evidence of the effectiveness of mouthwash against gonorrhoea and discusses the potential literature gaps before implementing the mouthwash intervention at a population level.

Hierarchizing caries risk factors among first-year university students in Nice (France): a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to rank the risk factors for dental caries among first-year university students in Nice (France).

METHODS

All first-year students are required to undergo a compulsory preventive medical examination. Among these students, volunteers were offered a dental visit. Information was collected through an interview followed by an oral examination. We assessed the volunteers' oral hygiene habits (daily toothbrushing frequency, type of toothbrush used, frequency of toothbrush replacement, place of toothpaste purchase, and flossing), daily health-related behaviors (number of main daily meals, daily sugary intakes, smoking, alcohol consumption, consumption of cannabis or other drugs), oral-health-related behaviors (self-reported oral health, dental visits during the past year, reason for the last dental consultation, and failure to seek dental care due to financial reasons), and oral health issues (dental crowding, oral hygiene, presence of caries, presence of pit and fissure sealant remnants). The dependent variable was the presence of at least one untreated carious lesion. The data were subjected to univariate analyses to select explanatory variables, and subsequently, a logistic regression was performed.

RESULTS

Six hundred twenty-nine students aged 18.8±1.6 years were enrolled in this study. The sex ratio was 0.72, with a strong predominance of the female gender. Only 59.3% of the students had never experienced dental caries, while 22.4% had already undergone restorative procedures and did not have any carious lesion at the time of the examination, and 11.6% presented with carious lesions and had never been treated by a dentist. Lastly, 6.7% had carious lesions despite evidence of prior restorative procedures. The multivariate analysis revealed the following pejorative risk factors: failure to seek dental care due to financial reasons (OR:3.06, 95% CI: 1.40-6.70), poor oral hygiene revealed during the oral examination (OR:2.59, 95% CI: 1.60-4.20), and poor self-reported oral health (OR:2.43, 95% CI: 1.24-4.77). Conversely, the analysis revealed the following protective factors: preventive visits to the dentist (OR:0.63, 95% CI: 0.41-0.99), the use of an electric toothbrush (OR:0.36, 95% CI: 0.17-0.77), and sealant remnants (OR:0.22, 95% CI: 0.05-0.97).

CONCLUSIONS

The highest-ranking caries risk factor for the study population was the financial barrier.

Determinants of oral self-care in the Brazilian adult population: a national cross-sectional study

This study aims to investigate variables related to adherence to oral self-care in the Brazilian adult population. It is an exploratory study, using secondary data from a population-based survey on a representative sample of the adult population of the entire Brazilian territory (n=60202). The sample was selected using a multiple stage approach. The oral self-care indicator was defined by grouping the variables: periodicity of dentist appointments, use of dental floss, toothbrush and toothpaste, frequency of brushing and replacement of the toothbrush. The scores obtained from the indicator were categorized into adequate, partially adequate, and inadequate care. Statistical analysis consisted of dimensionality reduction, and oral self-care-related variables were submitted to logistic regression. The variables mostly related to inadequate or partially adequate oral self-care were: illiteracy (OR = 11.20, OR = 4.81), low educational level (OR = 3.50, OR = 1.96), negative oral health self-concept (OR=3.73, OR=1.74), absence of natural teeth (OR = 4.98, OR=2.60), edentulous lower arch (OR = 3.09; _____), number of missing upper teeth (OR=1.14, OR=1.05), absence of health insurance (OR=2.23, OR=2.07), sedentary lifestyle (OR=2.77, OR=1.51), and smoking (OR=2.18, OR=1.40). It was concluded that the individual's level of education is one of the main factors for adherence to adequate oral self-care, followed by level of oral health self-concept and tooth loss. Likewise, lifestyle also bears a significant influence.

Randomized Controlled Trial of a One-minute Intervention Changing Oral Self-care Behavior

Non-compliance with oral self-care recommendations, despite education and motivation, is a major problem in preventive dentistry. Forming concrete if-then action plans has been successful in changing self-care behavior in other areas of preventive medicine. This is the first trial to test the effects of a brief planning intervention on interdental hygiene behavior. Two hundred thirty-nine participants received a packet of floss, information, and a flossing guide. They were randomly assigned to a control or an intervention group. The intervention took 1.16 minutes and consisted of forming a concrete plan of where, when, and how to floss. Baseline measures and two-week and two-month follow-ups included self-report, residual floss, and theory of planned behavior variables. The intervention significantly affected flossing in that group at two-week and two-month follow-ups, as compared with the control group. This study provides evidence for the effects of a concise intervention on oral self-care behavior.

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice Behaviour among Secondary School Children in Chandigarh

INTRODUCTION

Oral health knowledge is considered to be an essential prerequisite for health-related practices and better oral health. Healthy practices adopted at young age are more sustainable.

AIM

Present cross-sectional exploratory study was planned to assess oral health knowledge and practices of secondary school students in Chandigarh, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was under-taken amongst 1027 secondary level school students, in Chandigarh, India. After obtaining informed consent subjects were administered pretested self administered questionnaire addressing demographics, knowledge, attitude and practice behaviour of participants. Frequency analysis was done using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Survey revealed that only 40% subjects brushed twice daily. About 17% reported use of dental floss and 20% used either mouthwash or tongue cleaner as adjuncts. A total of 58% had knowledge that infrequent brushing led to dental caries, staining of teeth, dental plaque and bleeding from gums. Most of them knew sweets (92.7%) and soft drinks (67.8%) affected dental health. Only 12.9% visited dentist regularly after every 6-12 months.

CONCLUSION

Efficacy of dental health education can be increased only if health programs are tailored to directly impinge on attitudes of targeted population, especially school children in whom healthy practices can be inculcated easily and be sustained for long times.

Self-reported Oral Health Behaviour among Scandinavian and Polish Medical Students Studying in Poland

AIM

The aim of the study was to assess the self-reported oral health behaviour of Scandinavian and Polish medical students studying in Poland.

METHODS

Three hundred and fifty subjects took part in the questionnaire survey. They were the 4th to 6th year Scandinavian and Polish medical students attending the same medical school. Test-retest reliability demonstrated an accepted level of kappa > 0.50. The questionnaire comprised issues dealing with demographics, dental health behaviour, fluoride tablet recommendation, self-rated oral health, and smoking habit. Statistical analyses were performed using the Fisher-Freeman-Halton test, Fisher's exact test and the multiple logistic regression. A p value<0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Gender and nationality statistical differences were observed regarding the frequency of visiting a dentist: more Polish females visited a dentist less than a year ago (p=0.011), the reasons for visiting a dentist - check up, filling (p=0.002; p=0.040); the frequency of tooth brushing was higher among Polish females compared to Polish males and Scandinavian females (p<0.001; p<0.001). Polish males ate sweet snacks significantly more often than Polish females and Scandinavian males (p=0.018; p=0.004). In the logistic regression analysis factors were independently associated with visiting a dentist at least once a year: female gender (OR=2.310; 95% CI 1.381-3.865), Polish nationality (OR=3.833; 95% CI 2.293-6.408). Associations with the female gender were significant for the following dependent variables: visiting a dentist more than a year ago (OR=1.913; 95% CI 1.192-3.070), brushing teeth at least once a day (OR=3.759; 95% CI 1.567-9.017), and use of dental floss (OR=2.249; 95% CI 1.445-3.503). Polish nationality was associated with an increasing rate of brushing teeth for at least 3 minutes (OR=2.435; 95% CI 1.526-3.885), and smoking cigarettes (OR=2.340; 95% CI 1.336-4.098).

CONCLUSIONS

Better prognosis for maintaining good oral health was established in the Scandinavian group of students. Polish females took greater care of their teeth than Polish males and the majority of their Scandinavian counterparts.

Does the utilization of dental services associate with masticatory performance in a Japanese urban population?: the Suita study

There are numerous reports on the relationship between regular utilization of dental care services and oral health, but most are based on questionnaires and subjective evaluation. Few have objectively evaluated masticatory performance and its relationship to utilization of dental care services. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of regular utilization of dental services on masticatory performance. The subjects consisted of 1804 general residents of Suita City, Osaka Prefecture (760 men and 1044 women, mean age 66.5 ± 7.9 years). Regular utilization of dental services and oral hygiene habits (frequency of toothbrushing and use of interdental aids) was surveyed, and periodontal status, occlusal support, and masticatory performance were measured. Masticatory performance was evaluated by a chewing test using gummy jelly. The correlation between age, sex, regular dental utilization, oral hygiene habits, periodontal status or occlusal support, and masticatory performance was analyzed using Spearman's correlation test and t-test. In addition, multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to investigate the relationship of regular dental utilization with masticatory performance after controlling for other factors. Masticatory performance was significantly correlated to age when using Spearman's correlation test, and to regular dental utilization, periodontal status, or occlusal support with t-test. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that regular utilization of dental services was significantly related to masticatory performance even after adjusting for age, sex, oral hygiene habits, periodontal status, and occlusal support (standardized partial regression coefficient β = 0.055). These findings suggested that the regular utilization of dental care services is an important factor influencing masticatory performance in a Japanese urban population.

Oral hygiene behavior, smoking, and perceived oral health problems among university students

Background:

Behavioral aspects play a major role in the prevention of oral diseases. Moreover, not many people are aware of the relationship of smoking with potential oral diseases. Therefore, the aims of this study were to analyze oral hygiene behavior, smoking habits, and perceived oral health problems among a sample of university students in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.

Materials and Methods:

A self-administered questionnaire about oral hygiene behavior, smoking, and perceived oral health problems was developed. The questionnaires were mainly distributed in Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy colleges of the university. Questionnaires completed at other colleges were included under the term “other colleges.”

Results:

Overall, 380 questionnaires were returned. Majority of the students (92.4%) reported cleaning their teeth. Most of the students reported cleaning teeth once daily (48.7%). Just over a half (55.8%) reported having a dental check-up in the last 6 months, and a significantly higher number of dental students reported having a dental check-up (P < 0.05). Regarding smoking, the majority (63.4%) reported to have never smoked while 17.3% reported that they were smoking frequently. About 17.6% perceived oral health problems, including a significant proportion of those who reported frequent smoking.

Conclusions:

Oral hygiene behavior exhibited by the university students sample was similar. Majority cleaned their teeth, although only once. Smoking habit was not exhibited by the vast majority of students. Frequent smokers perceived oral health problems more than other students.

Long-Term Effects of School-Based Oral Health Program on Oral Health Knowledge and Practices and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of exposure to the School Oral Health Program (SOHP) during primary school years on the current oral health (OH) knowledge and practices and OH-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of Kuwait University students.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

300 university students, aged 17.6-24.3 years, completed a validated questionnaire that consisted of 5 sections about demographics, health self-evaluation, OH knowledge and practices and OHRQoL. Of these students, 260 were female, 40 male, 262 single and 38 married. 189 participants had attended the SOHP, while 111 had not. Frequencies and means were used for data description. The Student t test was used to compare the means, while χ(2) analysis was used for the associations between SOHP and non-SOHP attendance. The odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for significant factors.

RESULTS

The SOHP attendees were twice as aware of the relationship between gum problems and heart diseases than the non-SOHP (OR = 2, 95% CI = 1.15-3.48, p = 0.013). The daily activities of the non-SOHP attendees were twice as likely to be affected by dental health issues compared to those of the SOHP attendees (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.41-3.68, p < 0.001). In addition, the SOHP attendees were 3 times as likely to describe their OH status as good/very good/excellent than the non-SOHP attendees (OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.31-6.18, p = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

The SOHP attendees had a better OHRQoL and overall self-satisfaction with their OH than the non-SOHP attendees with insignificant differences between the 2 groups in OH knowledge and practices.

Oral health behaviour and social and health factors in university students from 26 low, middle and high income countries

Poor oral health is still a major burden for populations throughout the world, particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was investigate oral health behaviour (tooth brushing and dental attendance) and associated factors in low, middle and high income countries. Using anonymous questionnaires, data were collected from 19,560 undergraduate university students (mean age 20.8, SD = 2.8) from 27 universities in 26 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Results indicate that 67.2% of students reported to brush their teeth twice or more times a day, 28.8% about once a day and 4.0% never. Regarding dental check-up visit, 16.3% reported twice a year, 25.6% once a year, 33.9% rarely and 24.3% never. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, being a male, coming from a wealthy or quite well off family background, living in low income or lower middle income, weak beliefs in the importance of regular tooth brushing, depression and PTSD symptoms, tobacco use and frequent gambling, low physical activity, and low daily meal and snacks frequency were associated with inadequate tooth brushing (<twice daily). Further, being a male, older age, coming from a not well off or poor family background, living in low income or lower middle income, weak beliefs in the importance of regular tooth brushing, PTSD symptoms, illicit drug use, low physical activity, and low daily snacks frequency, skipping breakfast and inadequate fruit and vegetables consumption were associated with less than one annual dental care visit. Oral health behaviour among the students was found to be low. Various risk factors identified can be used to guide interventions to improve oral health behaviour among university students.

Oral self-care practices among university students in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

BACKGROUND

The maintenance of optimum oral health is dependent on the efficacy of oral self-care. The objective of the present study was to evaluate oral self-care practices and knowledge among non-medical students at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduate students at the University of Port Harcourt Nigeria, in January, 2014. Self-administered questionnaire elicited information on demography, frequency of tooth brushing, type of tooth brush, use of dental floss and previous visit to the dentist.

RESULTS

A total of 360 young adults, 188 males and 172 females, aged 18-33 years participated in the study. Brushing habits of the study population was at least once a day (90%). Approximately half (52.5 %) of the samples used medium-sized bristles and about 28.8% of the students replaced their toothbrush every 3 months. Regarding oral hygiene aids, few students, 5.8% and 4.2% used dental floss and mouthwash, respectively, as oral cleaning aid. Most of the students (71.6%) had never visited the dentist, 18.1% visited due to dental pain and 8.1% for extraction. Regarding knowledge on oral hygiene practice, approximately 60% of students knew that we have to brush our teeth twice daily, 31% knew we need to visit the dentist twice a year and only 18% knew what was dental floss.

CONCLUSION

Oral hygiene practices among the students were poor. Therefore, oral health education and promotion is required to improve oral hygiene practices and health among young adults and the general population.

Evaluating awareness regarding oral hygiene practices and exploring gender differences among patients attending for oral prophylaxis

BACKGROUND

Oral hygiene is intimated in health of all parts of the body including oral cavity. The understanding of actual practices in keeping the oral heath at standard based on patient's perceptions of oral health care is vital. Understanding the effect of gender on oral health would facilitate the development of successful attitude and behavior modification approach towards sustainable oral health.

PURPOSE OF STUDY

To evaluate awareness regarding oral hygiene practices and exploring gender differences among patients attending for oral prophylaxis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A survey was conducted among 250 patients attending the department of periodontology, Maulana Azad institute of dental sciences for oral prophylaxis. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information regarding practices and perception about oral hygiene.

RESULTS

Majority of the patients (60.4%) felt that oral hygiene is mandatory for overall health of the body. The use of toothpaste and toothbrush (83.6%) was the most preferred cleaning aid among the study population in the present study. The major constraint for avoiding dental examination was no felt need (41.2%) followed by cost of dental treatment (26.8%) and time constraints (24.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Professional plaque removal and regular follow-up combined with oral hygiene instructions to the patients can minimize the level of gingival inflammation and swelling. The poor resources for dental care, common malpractices and nonavailability of professional care are the main barriers in seeking optimum oral hygiene.

A saúde bucal masculina dos servidores públicos de Marília, São Paulo, Brasil

Este estudo aborda a saúde do homem no âmbito do cuidado da saúde bucal na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Tem como objetivo analisar o conhecimento e a adesão masculina aos cuidados de saúde bucal. O método utilizado foi um estudo transversal, descritivo, realizado no município de Marília, SP. Amostragem não probabilística por acessibilidade foi utilizada para o tamanho amostral, perfazendo 280 trabalhadores. Para a coleta de dados utilizou-se a técnica de entrevista estruturada. Os dados foram processados pelo programa Epi-Info versão 6.0 e tratados por teste como qui quadrado. Este estudo permitiu compreender as limitações dos homens no cuidar da sua saúde bucal. As variáveis faixa etária, escolaridade e renda familiar, quando associadas às categorias hábitos alimentares, práticas de higiene e conhecimento sobre a saúde bucal, apresentaram alguns resultados significativos (p<0,05). Tais achados sinalizam a necessidade de investimento tanto em ações de promoção da saúde quanto em ações de prevenção de doenças bucais.

Determinants of dental health status and dental health behavior among Sana'a University students, Yemen

AIMS

To evaluate the dental health status and toothbrushing behavior among Sana'a University students, and to explore any associations with different factors.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, the dental health of 360 students from the dental, medical, and literature faculties (120 each) at Sana'a University were examined using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. Data regarding study field, grade, toothbrushing behavior, parents' education, and smoking and khat chewing habits were recorded.

RESULTS

Nearly 76% of students (n = 273) reported regularly brushing their teeth. Excluding fathers' education levels and khat chewing, other factors (faculty, grade, sex, mothers' education, and smoking) were significant independent predictors for this behavior. The overall mean DMFT score (± standard deviation) was 4.13 ± 3.1, and was found to be adversely influenced by smoking, which explained only 1.1% of the variance. Toothbrushing, sex, and smoking were significant independent predictors for the decay score, and explained 10.6% of its variance. Khat chewing was found to be adversely associated with the missing score, with an influence of only 2.9%. The filling score was found to be positively associated with toothbrushing and study grade, which together had an influence of 10%.

CONCLUSIONS

The dental health and toothbrushing behaviors of Sana'a University students are unsatisfactory, and influenced unequally by different factors.

Oral health behavior and metabolic syndrome and its components in adults

Inflammation has been strongly related to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Periodontal disease is the most common chronic infection in adults. We investigated a cross-sectional (n = 925) and 3-year longitudinal (n = 685) relationship between the daily frequency of toothbrushing and MetS. In the cross-sectional analysis, the prevalence of MetS was 15.7%. After adjustment for potential confounding factors (including all lifestyle factors), the odds ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) of having MetS in those who brushed 2 times/day and ≥ 3 times/day were 0.71 (0.48-1.05) and 0.47 (0.24-0.92), respectively, as compared with ratios in those with a toothbrushing frequency of ≤ 1 time/day. Increasing toothbrushing frequency tended to relate inversely to hypertriglyceridemia and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. In the longitudinal analysis, 99 participants were newly diagnosed with MetS. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) of the MetS in participants who brushed 2 times/day and ≥ 3 times/day as compared with participants who brushed ≤ 1 time/day were 0.80 (0.49-1.31) and 0.43 (0.19-0.97), respectively. The frequency of toothbrushing was related inversely only to hypertriglyceridemia, consistent with the cross-sectional analysis. This study found that more frequent toothbrushing is related to a lower prevalence and incidence of MetS. These results suggest that more frequent toothbrushing may contribute to the prevention of MetS due to the inflammation/triglyceride pathway.

Oral health knowledge and practices of secondary school students, tanga, Tanzania

A good quality of life is possible if students maintain their oral health and become free of oral disease. A structured questionnaire assessed 785 students' level of oral health knowledge and practices. About 694 (88.4%) students had adequate level of knowledge on causes, prevention, and signs of dental caries, 760 (96.8%) on causes and prevention of periodontal diseases, 695 (88.5%) on cigarette smoking as cause of oral cancer, and 770 (98.1%) students on importance of dental checkups. Majority 717 (91.3%) had adequate practice of sugary food consumption; while 568 (72.4%) had acceptable frequency of tooth brushing, 19 (2.4%) brushed at an interval of twelve hours, and 313 (39.9%) visited for checkup. Majority of students had an adequate level of knowledge on oral health but low level of oral health practices. Both genders had similar level of knowledge with male predominance in oral health practices. Age had no influence on the level of oral health knowledge and practices of students.

Major differences in oral health knowledge and behavior in a group of Iranian pre-university students: a cross-sectional study

To establish efficient methods for self-prevention of oral diseases, assessment of dental health behavior and knowledge in various social classes is necessary. The main purpose of this study was to determine the major differences in oral health knowledge and behavior in a group of Iranian pre-university students. In this cross-sectional study, 591 pre-university students from different regions of Mashhad, Iran were randomly selected to complete a questionnaire consisting of two parts including dental health behavior and knowledge. Scores were recorded and statistical analyses performed to determine the correlation between dental health behavior and knowledge. Data was analyzed with Student's t-test, one-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation. The mean score of dental health knowledge was significantly lower than the dental health behavior (2.95 ± 0.02 vs. 3.31 ± 0.05, P < 0.001). This difference was observed with gender, birth location and major subject of study. The dental health behavior of Iranian pre-university students was inadequate and their dental health knowledge was at a lower level compared to their behavior. Experimental science students had better oral health behavior compared to other students.

Adherence to a daily flossing regimen in university students: effects of planning when, where, how and what to do in the face of barriers

OBJECTIVES

Regular (daily) dental flossing is recommended for preventing oral diseases, but adherence is unsatisfactory. Social cognitive theory (SCT) specifies determinants of dental flossing: cognitions about risk, positive and negative outcome expectations and the perceived ability to perform behaviour predict motivation, which in turn predicts behaviour. Recent research suggests that motivation alone may not suffice to predict behaviour, and proposes if-then-planning. This study aims to predict flossing adherence from social cognitive variables and planning.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Questionnaire data from 157 non-dental university students on flossing, SCT variables and planning were gathered at three measurement points over 6 weeks. Residual floss was used to validate behaviour self-reports.

RESULTS

Social cognitive variables and planning correlated significantly with flossing at all times. Discriminant function analysis suggests that after controlling for Time 1 flossing, planning Time 2 (Wilk's lambda=0.77; p<0.01) is more important in discriminating between adherent and non-adherent participants at Time 3 than Time 1 social cognitive measures. Regression analyses confirmed this result with planning as only predictor of flossing change (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest targeting planning in interventions to increase compliance with flossing recommendations. Implications for such interventions are discussed.

An assessment of oral self-care in the student population of a Turkish university

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the oral health behavior of Turkish non-dental university students.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A sample of 610 non-dental university students attending the University of Ondokuz Mayis in Samsun were randomly selected from the whole student population (n=12604) via the random number method. The students were asked to fill out a standardized self-completion questionnaire about daily frequency of toothbrushing, kind of toothbrush, frequency of toothbrush replacement, frequency of dental flossing, use of antibacterial rinse, or any other oral hygiene aid, receiving of oral hygiene instruction and frequency of oral check-up. The data were analysed using the SPSS version 12.0.1 statistical software package.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight per cent of the students brushed their teeth two or more times per day. Two or more times a day toothbrushing was more common among females than males (P<0.001). Few subjects (3%) used dental floss daily. Forty per cent of students used only the toothpick as an interdental oral hygiene device. Thirty per cent of the students visited a dentist for preventive treatment at least once a year. There was no significant difference in regularity of visits to the dentist between females and males (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that self-preventive oral behaviour of the Turkish university student is at a lower level than in industrialized countries.

Emotion und Volition bei regelmäßigem Gesundheitsverhalten

Zusammenfassung. Die Vorhersage von Gesundheitsverhalten kann dadurch verbessert werden, dass man neben Intentionen Ausführungsplanung berücksichtigt. Wie gut sich die Planung auf das Verhalten auswirkt, kann aber auch davon abhängen, ob negative Emotionen vorherrschen, z.B. wenn Personen ängstlich erregt sind. Ob solche Effekte bei der regelmäßigen Benutzung von Zahnseide auftreten, wird hier untersucht. In einer Studie mit drei Messzeitpunkten im Abstand von sechs Wochen wurden 157 Teilnehmer zu Interdentalhygiene, Intentionen, Ausführungsplanung und negativen prospektiven Emotionen (Dentalangst und Furcht vor Verletzungen) befragt. Zusätzlich wurde zum zweiten Messzeitpunkt ein objektives Maß für Verhalten (Residualzahnseide) erhoben. Die Ergebnisse von hierarchischen Regressionsanalysen - die getrennt für die Gruppen der hochängstlichen und der niedrigängstlichen Personen gerechnet wurden - zeigen, dass die Effekte der Ausführungsplanung von negativen Emotionen abhängen. Teilnehmer, die mehr Furcht vor Verletzungen verspürten, profitierten weniger von Ausführungsplanung als Teilnehmer, die wenig Furcht berichteten. Vorschläge für einfach durchzuführende Planungsinterventionen und für weitere Forschung werden diskutiert.

Dental health knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among students at the Kuwait University Health Sciences Centre

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to determine the extent of dental health knowledge among students at the Kuwait University Health Sciences Centre (HSC), as well as their attitudes toward dental health and their oral hygiene habits.

METHODS

A structured questionnaire was distributed to 450 of the 800 students enrolled in 3 faculties of the HSC from March to April 2000. The questionnaire was completed anonymously by the students.

RESULTS

Four hundred and ten students (91.1%) completed the questionnaire. Of these, 64.6% believed that the main cause of tooth decay was 'not brushing properly'. Only 19.3% of the students believed that sugar could cause dental decay. Half of the students did not know if sugar-free drinks are harmful to their teeth, and 29.5% did not know about any measures to prevent gums from bleeding. Self-assessment questions showed that 84.5% of the students were satisfied with their dental health. A large majority of the students (94.8%) brushed their teeth at least once a day. Female students brushed their teeth more frequently than male students, as did those students who had visited a dentist in the past 6-12 months and those who rated their dental health to be very good. The main reason given for a dental visit was toothache (70.0%). Coffee was consumed daily by 68.9% of students, 76.6% of whom added sugar to their coffee.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that although most of the students at the HSC seem to be satisfied with their dental health, they did not have correct knowledge about the causes and prevention of dental diseases. In general, female students were more aware and concerned about dental health issues and more engaged in dental behaviour than male students.

Oral health knowledge and behavior among male health sciences college students in Kuwait

BACKGROUND: Health auxiliary personnel have an important role in oral health promotion when they graduate and start working in the health care system. This study aims to find out oral health knowledge and oral health behavior of male Health Sciences College students. METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to all students at the male Health Sciences College in Kuwait (N = 153) during the academic year 2001/2002. The students filled the anonymous questionnaire in the class after the lecture. The response rate was 84% (n = 128). The questions consisted information on the general background, oral health behavior and oral health knowledge. RESULTS: Oral health knowledge seemed to be limited and very few background factors were associated with it. More than half of the students had visited a dentist during the previous 12 months, but only one third of students were brushing twice a day or more often. CONCLUSIONS: It may be concluded that the male Health Sciences College students seemed to have appropriate knowledge on some oral health topics, but limited knowledge on the others. Their toothbrushing practices are still far behind the international recommendation (twice a day) and also the knowledge, why it should be done so frequently also very limited.