Oral Hygiene Practices and Oral Health Knowledge among Students in Split, Croatia

Oral Health and "Modern" Digestive Diseases: Pathophysiologic and Etiologic Factors

In the contemporary era of medicine, exploring the complexity of the human body and its intricate interactions has become a central concern for health researchers. The main purpose of this article is to summarize the current understanding of relevant pathophysiological factors such as chronic inflammation, dysbiosis (microbial imbalance), and metabolic disorders, as well as etiological factors including dietary habits, lifestyle choices, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and genetic predispositions, as well as to emphasize potential avenues for upcoming studies and their medical significance. Additionally, this article aims to assess the potential impact of integrated treatment approaches on patient outcomes, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between gastroenterologists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive care plans that address both oral and digestive health issues simultaneously. Among the branches with a significant impact on general well-being are oral cavity health and digestive diseases, which have been the subject of intensive research in recent decades. In this context, analysis of the current state of knowledge on oral cavity disorders in relation to "modern" digestive diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) becomes essential for a deeper understanding of the interconnections between oral and digestive health. The temporal overlap or succession, whether preceding or following, of oral manifestations and digestive disorders should be taken seriously by both gastroenterologists and dentists to facilitate early diagnosis and explain to patients the correlation between these two body systems. In summary, this article underscores the importance of understanding the intricate relationship between oral and digestive health, advocating for interdisciplinary approaches to improve patient outcomes and guide future research.

From Oral Health to Obstetric Outcomes: A Comprehensive Review of Periodontal Disease and Its Implications for Preeclampsia

Periodontal disease and preeclampsia (PE) are both significant health concerns with implications for maternal and fetal well-being. Emerging evidence suggests a potential association between these two conditions, prompting increased interest in understanding their relationship and clinical implications. This comprehensive review examines the current literature on periodontal disease and PE, focusing on epidemiological evidence, proposed mechanistic pathways, and clinical implications. Epidemiological studies consistently demonstrate an increased risk of PE among pregnant individuals with periodontal disease, independent of traditional risk factors. Proposed mechanisms linking periodontal disease to PE include systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. The implications for research include the need for well-designed prospective studies and randomized controlled trials to elucidate further the mechanisms underlying the association and evaluate the effectiveness of periodontal interventions in preventing PE. Clinicians should be aware of the potential link between periodontal disease and PE and consider screening pregnant individuals for periodontal disease as part of routine prenatal care. Interdisciplinary collaboration between obstetricians and periodontists may be beneficial in managing pregnant individuals with periodontal disease to mitigate the risk of PE. By addressing these research gaps, we can further understand the relationship between oral health and obstetric outcomes and develop evidence-based strategies to improve maternal and fetal health.

Alcohol and Periodontal Disease: A Narrative Review

The scientific literature dealing with alcohol and alcoholic beverages revealed that these drinks possess an adverse impact on periodontal tissues. Additionally, other principal risk factors include tobacco, smoking, poor oral hygiene, etc. It has been observed that among chronic alcoholics, there are further issues, such as mental, social, and physical effects, that promote alcoholism. These people may have weak immunity for defense against pathogenic organisms and bacteria. Thus, chances of gingival bleeding, swollen gums, bad breath, and increased bone loss are there. Different alcoholic beverages in the market cause less salivation; these beverages contain sugars that promote acid production in the oral cavity by pathogens that demineralize the enamel and damage gum and teeth. This chronic alcohol consumption can progress into different types of oral disorders, including cancer, halitosis, and caries, and is also associated with tobacco and smoking. Chronic alcohol consumption can cause alteration of the oral microbiome and increase oral pathogens, which lead to periodontal disease and an environment of inflammation created in the body due to malnutrition, diminished immunity, altered liver condition, brain damage, and gut microbiota alteration. Heavily colored alcoholic beverages produce staining on teeth and, due to less saliva, may cause other toxic effects on the periodontium. Over-dependency on alcohol leads to necrotizing lesions such as necrotizing gingivitis, necrotizing periodontitis, and necrotizing stomatitis. These pathological impairments instigate severe damage to oral structures. Therefore, proper counseling by the attending dental surgeon and related health professionals is urgently required for the patient on the basis that the individual case needs to go away from the regular heavy consumption of alcohol.

Challenges in Optimizing Nanoplatforms Used for Local and Systemic Delivery in the Oral Cavity

In this study, we focused on innovative approaches to improve drug administration in oral pathology, especially by transmucosal and transdermal pathways. These improvements refer to the type of microneedles used (proposing needles in the saw), to the use of certain enhancers such as essential oils (which, besides the amplifier action, also have intrinsic actions on oral health), to associations of active substances with synergistic action, as well as the use of copolymeric membranes, cemented directly on the tooth. We also propose a review of the principles of release at the level of the oral mucosa and of the main release systems used in oral pathology. Controlled failure systems applicable in oral pathology include the following: fast dissolving films, mucoadhesive tablets, hydrogels, intraoral mucoadhesive films, composite wafers, and smart drugs. The novelty elements brought by this paper refer to the possibilities of optimizing the localized drug delivery system in osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint, neuropathic pain, oral cancer, periodontitis, and pericoronitis, as well as in maintaining oral health. We would like to mention the possibility of incorporating natural products into the controlled failure systems used in oral pathology, paying special attention to essential oils.

Oral health knowledge, practice and associated factors among Junior High School students of Koforidua, Ghana: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Oral disease poses a significant public health burden for many countries and affects individuals throughout their lifetime, causing pain, disfigurement, impairment of function and reduced quality of life. Among children and adolescents globally, there is a recognized trend of poor oral hygiene, attributed to the accumulation of plaque and calculus deposits that increase with age. This study assessed the knowledge, practice and factors associated with the practice of oral hygiene among Junior High School students (JHS) in Koforidua, in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

METHODS

A school-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 233 JHS students in Koforidua township using a multistage sampling technique. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequency, percentage, and Pearson's Chi-square test, were conducted. The results were interpreted using tables and graphs.

RESULTS

Findings from the study revealed that more than half 126 (54.1%) of the respondents had a good level of knowledge of oral hygiene. The majority 130 (55.8%) of them also had good oral hygiene practice. The findings further indicated that a significant relationship was found between the class or education level of students and good oral hygiene practice (χ2 = 17.36, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Overall, the current study found that over half of the JHS students had good knowledge as well as practice of oral hygiene. This reinforces the significance of oral health education and awareness campaigns, especially in school settings, to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to oral hygiene. The study however found only class or education level of students to be statistically associated with the practice of oral hygiene. While other variables did not reach statistical significance, our research serves as a starting point for further investigation and exploration of the various factors that may contribute to oral hygiene practices.

Efficacy of adjunctive octenidine hydrochloride as compared to chlorhexidine and placebo as adjuncts to instrumentation in stage I-II periodontitis: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

This randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of octenidine hydrochloride and chlorhexidine mouthwashes as adjuncts to instrumentation in stage I-II periodontitis patients.

METHODS

Forty-five patients with mild-to-moderate periodontitis were randomly allocated to three groups: 0.1% octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT), placebo, and 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwashes. Patients were instructed to use the mouthwash after instrumentation for twice a day up to 3 weeks. Periodontal parameters such as probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), O'Leary plaque index (PI), Loe and Silness gingival index (GI), Lobene stain index (SI), and oral soft tissue changes were recorded at baseline and once every week for 3 weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was also recorded as a self-administered questionnaire at the end of the study. The one-way ANOVA was used to compare VAS scores between the groups. The repeated measures ANOVA and post hoc Newman-Keuls tests were used to assess the differences in the periodontal parameters between groups at different time intervals. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the mean SI.

RESULTS

There was a significant reduction in the mean GI of the OCT and CHX groups compared to placebo (p < 0.05). OCT usage resulted in significantly less staining, according to mean SI, when compared to CHX. Furthermore, VAS scores revealed that OCT was significantly the preferred mouthwash (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Adjunctive octenidine hydrochloride may be an alternative to chlorhexidine in its ability to control the periodontal parameters in patients with stage I-II periodontitis. Further larger studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

A Brief Review on Engaging and Interactive Learning for Children: Exploring the Potential of Metaverse-Based Oral Health Promotion

The importance of oral health for overall health makes it critical to establish proper oral hygiene practices in children early on. The traditional approaches to teaching children about dental health may not be successful since they may not be able to keep their interest. Metaverse technology offers a promising alternative, allowing for the design of engaging and immersive worlds that can effectively educate children about oral health. Despite the growing interest in the use of metaverse technology in healthcare, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on its potential for oral health promotion in children. This review aims to fill this gap by providing an overview of the current state of metaverse-based oral health promotion for children, discussing its benefits and challenges, and highlighting its potential for improving children's oral health. By conducting this review, the authors hope to provide new information on the potential of metaverse-based oral health promotion for children and to contribute to the ongoing discussion on the use of metaverse technology in healthcare. This review may also provide valuable insights for dental organizations and practitioners interested in using metaverse technology to promote oral health and healthy living among children.

Dental caries, tobacco usage and associated risk factor of dental caries in patients visiting a government hospital in Western, Nepal

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of dental caries, tobacco usage, and associated risk factors for dental caries in patients who visited a government hospital in Western, Nepal.

METHODS

This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2022. Patients above 18 years visiting the dental OPD of a government hospital, and who had provided informed consent were enrolled in the study using a convenience sampling technique. As the study also involved an illiterate population, in that case, informed consent was obtained from their respective legal guardian as well. A pretested standardized, close-ended questionnaire was administered by researchers to gather information regarding the associated risk factors and oral hygiene practices. Clinical examination was done for dental caries according to the criteria by the World Health Organization (WHO) using the "DMFT" index (WHO modification 1987). Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was done and the odds ratio and p-value was calculated. For all tests, statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 219 participants completed the study with a mean age of 31.73 ± 12.46. The prevalence of dental caries and tobacco was found to be 80.36% and 5.02% respectively. Participants without health insurance had 2.35 times higher odds of dental caries (95% CI: 1.03-5.36). Not rinsing the mouth after eating sweets was associated with 3.07 times higher odds of dental caries (95% CI: 1.31-7.18). Those who hadn't visited a dentist in the past 12 months had lower odds (0.42; 95% CI: 0.18-0.94). Eating fresh fruit daily showed statistically higher odds (2.70; 95% CI: 1.04-6.99) of dental caries. Non-tobacco users had higher odds (14.19; 2.55-78.99) of dental caries.

CONCLUSION

Dental caries is highly prevalent, while tobacco usage is relatively low. Factors associated with dental caries included lack of health insurance coverage, consumption of fruits once daily, recent dental visits within the past year, not rinsing the mouth with water after consuming sweets, and non-tobacco users.

[Knowledge level of periodontal health in students of health sciences. a cross-sectional study]

Introduction

Periodontal disease is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease, so knowledge about this disease is important for health professionals for an assertive and early diagnosis.

Objective

Determine the level of knowledge about periodontal health in Health Sciences students at a private university in Lima-Perú.

Materials and Methods

Through a descriptive and cross-sectional study, 200 students from the Faculty of Health Sciences were evaluated. The sample size was obtained using a proportion estimation formula. The level of knowledge about periodontal health was measured using a specific virtual and self-applicable questionnaire, which was fully validated. University students of legal age and who signed the informed consent were included. This consisted of 16 questions about the causes, signs, prevention habits and relationship with systemic diseases related to periodontal disease. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (absolute and relative frequencies) and means and averages for age.

Results

The level of knowledge was medium in 38%, high in 32.5% and low in 29.5% of the students surveyed. 96.5% knew that periodontal disease is preventable; However, 91.5% do not know what its main clinical sign is.

Conclusions

The use of a self-applicable and specific questionnaire is beneficial to evaluate and measure knowledge about periodontal health, and the Health Sciences students evaluated have a medium level of knowledge about periodontal health.

Oral Health Knowledge, Self-Assessed Oral Health Behavior, and Oral Hygiene Practices among the Adult General Population in Croatia

OBJECTIVES

Emphasizing the significance of optimal oral health for enhancing overall well-being, this study aimed to investigate oral health knowledge, self-assessed oral health behaviors, and oral hygiene practices within the Croatian general population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted online, utilizing a questionnaire collecting sociodemographic characteristics and inquiring about respondents' oral health knowledge, self-assessed oral health status, oral hygiene habits, and use of oral hygiene products. Collected data underwent both descriptive and regression analyses to unveil patterns and relationships within the dataset.

RESULTS

The respondents showed a high level of knowledge about oral health (median score 9, IQR 7.00-10.00, maximum possible score 10), with significant factors for higher knowledge being engaged in dental professions; above-average socioeconomic status; and the use of an electric brush, dental floss, and interdental brushes (p ˂ 0.05). Insufficient knowledge, on the other hand, was associated with bleeding gums and daily smoking (p ˂ 0.05). Although 69.4% of respondents considered their oral health to be very good, 32.5% reported tooth decay, and 38.2% reported tooth sensitivity. The majority (62.0%) cited regular check-ups as the reason for their last visit to the dentist, with 74.1% feeling no anxiety or discomfort during these visits. Daily toothbrush use was widespread (97.8%), but only 34.1% and 19.1% of respondents reported using floss and/or interdental brushes daily. A remarkable 69.0% of respondents indicated that low oral health literacy and low prioritization contribute to suboptimal oral health.

CONCLUSIONS

While respondents demonstrated commendable oral health knowledge, the prevalence of reported issues suggests a potential gap between perception and actual oral health status. To address this, targeted educational interventions focusing on comprehensive oral hygiene practices and debunking misconceptions should be prioritized in Croatia.

A Comparative Study of Practice, Perception, and Attitude of Undergraduate Healthcare Students towards Toothbrush Selection, Maintenance and Replacement in RAS Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

AIM

Oral hygiene is one of the most significant lifestyle-related determinants of well-being. Health sciences undergraduate students are not only future healthcare providers but also educators of society in maintaining the overall general health. The aim of the study was to assess the practice, perception, and attitude of healthcare students in RAS Al-Khaimah toward toothbrush selection, maintenance, and replacement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing undergraduate students. The data on demography, practice, perception, and attitude was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. It was evaluated using the Chi-square test and Spearman's rho test.

RESULTS

Out of 318 participating students of both genders, medicine (26.4%), dentistry (25.7%), pharmacy (35.8%), and nursing (12.0%) students showed satisfactory practice (51.8%) and perception (77.3%) of toothbrush selection, maintenance, and replacement. A significant difference (p = 0.000) in attitude was observed across the different disciplines.

CONCLUSION

The study group demonstrated a satisfactory level of understanding regarding the selection, maintenance and replacement of toothbrush to ensure oral care and hygiene. Educating the health sciences students during their undergraduate studies with more general health topics such as oral hygiene is of utmost need, and community engagements, interdisciplinary learning approaches and curriculum updates can help to achieve this.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This study draws the attention for the inclusion of health-related topics in the curriculum that may impact on community health and education. How to cite this article: Bhongade BA, Ali AA, Makade CS, et al. A Comparative Study of Practice, Perception, and Attitude of Undergraduate Healthcare Students towards Toothbrush Selection, Maintenance and Replacement in RAS Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. J Contemp Dent Pract 2023;24(12):974-980.

A New Era of Dental Care: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Better Diagnosis and Treatment

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into dental care holds the promise of revolutionizing the field by enhancing the accuracy of dental diagnosis and treatment. This paper explores the impact of AI in dental care, with a focus on its applications in diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient engagement. AI-driven dental imaging and radiography, computer-aided detection and diagnosis of dental conditions, and early disease detection and prevention are discussed in detail. Moreover, the paper delves into how AI assists in personalized treatment planning and provides predictive analytics for dental care. Ethical and privacy considerations, including data security, fairness, and regulatory aspects, are addressed, highlighting the need for a responsible and transparent approach to AI implementation. Finally, the paper underscores the potential for a collaborative partnership between AI and dental professionals to offer the best possible care to patients, making dental care more efficient, patient-centric, and effective. The advent of AI in dentistry presents a remarkable opportunity to improve oral health outcomes, benefiting both patients and the healthcare community.

Knowledge and attitude toward oral health behavior of overseas students during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted overseas students, including their oral health. Due to movement restrictions, limited living allowances, dental treatment costs, and health insurance fees, overseas students might be more concerned about their oral health. The objective of the present study was to determine the association of knowledge and attitude toward oral healthcare behavior of overseas university students staying in Thailand between January 2020 to July 2022 and explore the experiences of their oral health problems.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey in English operated through the Google platform by convenience sampling among overseas Chulalongkorn University students. A newly developed self-administered questionnaire on knowledge and attitude toward oral health-related behavior and experiences in oral health problems was completed voluntarily. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlations were employed using IBM SPSS version 29.

RESULTS

Of 311 overseas students, 55.6% were male. The average age of students was 27.5 ± 4.5 years. 68.81% of students were from ASEAN countries, and 73.31% studied in non-health science programs. The study fields, health and non-health sciences, were associated with knowledge score (p < 0.001) and attitude score (p = 0.004), whereas the type of health insurance had an association with behavior score (p = 0.014) and the student's perspective about dental visits (p = 0.014). Three hundred fifty-nine cases of oral health problems were experienced by 47.3% of overseas students. These problems consisted primarily of tooth hypersensitivity (21.2%), gingivitis (15.3%), caries (14%), cracked or broken tooth (10%), severe toothache (9%), fallen out filling (8%), and wisdom tooth pain (7.8%). There was an association between oral healthcare behavior and oral health problems (p < 0.001), and a negative correlation was found between behavior score and the number of oral health problems (p < 0.001, r=-0.204).

CONCLUSION

The oral healthcare habits of overseas university students correlated positively with knowledge and attitude. A negative correlation was observed between behavior and the number of oral health problems. Furthermore, studying in health science programs impacted students' knowledge and attitude toward oral health, while dental treatment coverage insurance affected decisions for dental visits.

Mouth-Heart Connection: A Systematic Review on the Impact of Periodontal Disease on Cardiovascular Health

Periodontal diseases (PDs) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are highly prevalent global diseases with increasing percentages of morbidity and mortality. Both PD and CVDs independently have multifactorial causation, and emerging evidence shows an association between PD and CVDs. Periodontal diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis are chronic inflammatory conditions that eventually cause systemic inflammation, leading to many systemic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and others. In this study, we followed a systematic review approach to give an overview of the current evidence on the association between PD and CVDs. We used a relevant search strategy to retrieve articles from databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar from 2013 to July 2023. Upon applying filters and screening through titles and abstracts, we could narrow down articles to 21. On full-text screening, we selected 10 articles for in-depth analysis. This study showed a significant correlation between PD and CVDs. Poor oral hygiene, infection, and inflammation in the oral cavity lead to systemic inflammation, causing endothelial dysfunction. There are controversial views about PD acting as an independent risk factor for CVD development, as there are other risk factors such as age, gender, smoking, etc. acting as confounding factors while establishing the link between PD and CVDs. Knowledge about oral health, maintaining good oral hygiene, and proper treatment for PD could reduce the incidence of CVDs. Further research is needed to prove that PD is an independent risk factor for CVDs.

Factors predicting oral health behaviors among students age 13-15 years in Shushtar city, Iran

BACKGROUND

Tooth decay and other oral health (periodontal) diseases are highly prevalent worldwide and present a significant economic burden. Oral health is particularly important for adolescents, as the World Health Organization has identified tooth decay as one of the most pressing global health issues. This study aims to identify predictors of oral health behaviors among students aged 13-15 years in the city of Shushtar, Iran.

METHODS

The present research is a cross-sectional study that was conducted during the summer of 2022 on 415 adolescents from the first secondary school in Shushtar. Two standard questionnaires were used to collect data, consisting of demographic information and questions related to measuring awareness, attitude, performance, and self-efficacy regarding oral health behaviors among adolescents. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 22 statistical software through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis.

RESULTS

The average scores for awareness, attitude, self-efficacy in brushing teeth, self-efficacy in flossing, self-efficacy in going to the dentist, and adolescents' performance on oral health behaviors are 5.72 ± 2.06, 36.40 ± 6.36, 25.40 ± 7.49, 14.15 ± 6.06, 15.80 ± 5.59, and 14.01 ± 4.02, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that adolescents have low levels of awareness, performance, self-efficacy, and a positive attitude towards oral health. Considering the significance of adolescence as a stage for shaping oral health behaviors and their impact on adulthood, it is recommended to increase awareness among adolescents and improve their health behaviors by conducting educational classes in schools.

Evaluation of Self-Reported Oral Health Attitudes and Behavior of Dental Students in Antalya, Turkey

Background Dental students are expected to play a critical role in the oral health education of society as future providers of dental care, and their attitudes on this subject have a possible impact on the awareness of patients regarding the importance of preventing oral diseases and improving oral health. This study aimed to evaluate the oral health attitudes and behavior of dental students. Methodology The Turkish version of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory (HU-DBI) questionnaire regarding oral health attitudes and behaviors with an additional nine questions was distributed among 250 native Turkish-speaking dental students at the Faculty of Dentistry in Antalya, Turkey. The validity of the nine questions added to the original questionnaire was evaluated by expert opinion and a pretest method. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis, and the statistical significance level was set at p-values <0.05. Results The mean age of the 250 students in the study was 20.96 ± 1.66 years. In total, 157 (62.8%) students were preclinical (first, second, and third year) dentistry students, and 93 (37.2%) students were clinical (fourth and fifth year) dentistry students. The mean HU-DBI score of all students was 5.95 ± 1.65, and the mean HU-DBI score of clinical students (6.42 ± 1.65) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of preclinical students (5.67 ± 1.59). The mean HU-DBI score of male and female students was 5.63 ± 1.55 and 6.24 ± 1.69, respectively, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The study showed significant improvement in the behavior and attitude regarding the oral health of the clinical dental students compared with the preclinical dental students. Conclusions Among dental students, clinical students and female students had generally better attitudes and behaviors about oral health self-care compared to preclinical students and male students, respectively.