Journal of Oral Health & Community Dentistry original article Oral Hygiene Practices in Dental Students Hosing A 1, Hiremath AM 2, Vadavadagi V 3, Bansal A 4, Kahar A 5 ABSTRACT Objective: This study aims to determine oral health practices among under graduate dental students from Pravara Rural Dental college Loni. Methods: A self administered questionnaire was distributed among dental students randomly. The questionnaire was developed to assess the self reported perception of oral hygiene practices. Results: The response rate was 85%. 15% of the students did not answer the questionnaire completely so were not included in the study. (n=252) 67.46% students reported brushing twice daily while only 5.55% were brushing thrice daily, 26.98% of them were brushing once in a day. 96.03% the students reported using toothpaste, 79.75% of them were using fluoridated toothpaste this indicates that many of them were well aware of fact that fluorides have significant role in dental caries and show potential therapeutic,adjunctive and preventive use in the treatment of periodontal diseases. 73.41% of students reported rinsing their mouth with water, only 23.80% were using mouthwashes.all of them were using one or more oral cleaning aids i.e. dental floss, interdental brush and tongue cleaner.seventy nine percent students were reported using tongue cleaners. Conclusion: The results indicate that more emphasis should be given on Oral health care of Undergraduate dental students and further research is needed to examine oral cavity clinically and objectively by standard procedures available.students should be motivated to keep their mouth free of dental diseases by practicing proper oral hygine aids and guidelines. Keywords: Dental students, Oral hygiene practices, Brushing. 1 Rural Dental College and Hospital PMT Institute, 2 P.M.N.M Dental College and Hospital, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India 3 Rural Dental College and Hospital PMT Institute, 4 Vaidik Dentail College and Research Center Daman, UT, India 5 Rural Dentail College and Hospital PMT Institute, Contact Author Dr. Abhishek Bansal ashi142002@yahoo.co.in J Oral Health Comm Dent 2016;10(1)30-34 INTRODUCTION Dental students play an important role in Oral health care and promotion when they graduate and start working. Learning dentistry becomes ineffective unless these students are aware of their own oral health (1-20).This study aims to determine oral health practices among under graduate dental students from Pravara Rural Dental college Loni. The OBJECTIVES of the study are as follows To check the awareness of dental students about oral hygiene guidelines. To determine the most commonly used brushing technique and brushing frequency among dental students. To determine the number of students using mouthwashes for rinsing. To determine the popularity of interdental cleaning aids and tongue cleaner among dental students. MATERIALS AND METHODS The self administered questionnaire was distributed to students of Rural Dental College Loni randomly.no infromation of their academic record was collected Students filled the anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire consist of 5 questions, which contained 30 JOHCD www.johcd.org January 2016;10(1)
Table 1: Dentifrices used Paste Powder Any Other 242 3 7 (96.031%) (1.19%) (2.77%) information regarding brushing techniques, mode of brushing, dentifrices used and other cleaning aids used for oral health care.incomplete questionnaire were dropped from the study. Valid cases were those who answered the questionnaire completely. RESULTS Out of 296 students 252 students responded. The response rate was 85%. The total number of valid cases for data analysis was 252.Valid cases were those who answered the questionnaire completely.incomplete questionnaire were dropped from the study.i.e final study group consisted 252 students. (n=252). It is found that 96.03% students were using tooth paste, only 1.19% of the students were using tooth powder while 2.77% were using other type of dentifrices like datun.(table 1) Table 2: Type of toothpaste used Fluoridated Non Fluoridated 193 49 (79.75%) (a242) As shown in Table 2 The number of the students using toothpaste were 242, out of these 183(79.75%) of students were found to be using fluoridated toothpastes, while 49(20.24%) individuals were found to be using non fluoridated toothpastes. In this study (Table 3) 67.46% of students were found brushing twice daily 26.98% were brushing once in a day. Only 5.55% were brushing thrice daily, No students were found brushing more than thrice daily. As described in Table 4 57.53% of students were using medium type and 34.52% of them were using soft type of brush for brushing their teeth while 6.74% students were found using hard brushes. 1.21% students did not answer this question. 1.21% students did not answer this question. Table 5 shows 76.60% students were brushing by manual mode and 9.92% were brushing by powered mode.while 15.4% of students did not answer this question. JOHCD www.johcd.org January 2016;10(1) 31
Table 3: Number of brushing times daily 1 time 2times 3times >3times 68 170 14 0 (26.98%) (67.46%)1 (5.55%) Table 6 indicates 24.60% students were used to change their brush every month. 62.30% of the students used to change their brush every three months. 12.33% of them were changing their brushes after 6 months and 0.8% students did not answer this question. Only 60 (23.80%) students were using mouthwashes for rinsing.185(73.41%) students were using water for rinsing and 2.79% students didnot answer this question. (Table 7) As described in Table 8. 79.36% students reported using tongue cleaners but only 13.49% of them were using dental floss and only 7.14% of them were using interdental brushes. Table 4: Types of brushes used Soft Medium Hard 87 145 17 (34.52%) (57.53%) (6.74%) DISCUSSION Dental caries and periodontal diseases are major health problem worldwide. Unfortunately oral hygiene is the factor that gets neglected. Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems especially dental caries, periodontitis and bad breath. This study aims to find out awareness of dental students about their own oral health. Dental students play an important role in oral health care and promotion. as these students come across a great number of patients of different age groups and different socioeconomic groups daily. hence they can act as a role model for the community. Tooth brush and tooth paste were the most commonly used oral hygiene aids. 96% of the students were reported using toothbrush and toothpaste as basic oral hygiene aids. Twice a day is the minimum everyone should brush the teeth once when we get up and again before go to bed for the best care. However everyone should brush the teeth after every meal especially after eating sweets. Tooth brushing frequency of twice a 32 JOHCD www.johcd.org January 2016;10(1)
Table 5: Mode of brushing Powered Manual 25 188 (9.92%) (74.60%) POWERED MANUAL day was found in 67.46% students, similar proportion of brushing twice daily have been reported among 12 years Kuwaities(19) and saudi arabians school childrens (2). In Lebenan twice a day brushing was in similar proportion was found i.e 65% (8) but lower among 15-18 years in turkey(11). these studies indicates that much more Health education needs to be done at schools and colleges for establishing proper toothbrushing and other oral health practices. Maximum students were reported using soft and medium type of brushes. (soft=34.52%and medium=57.53%) only 6.74% of them were using hard brushes unknown of the fact that hard bristles can damage teeth and gums so they are not recommanded. Table 6: Frequency of changing brush One Month Three Month Six Month 62 157 31 (24.60%) (62.30%) (12.33%) Table 7: Rinsing With Water With Mouthwash 185 60 (73.41%) (23.80%) There are two modes of brushing Manual and powered.studies have shown that both Manual and powered mode of brushing are equally effective when used correctly (18). Powered toothbrushes are fun and may remove more plaque but Manual are also effective and easier.powered toothbrushes can be helpful for special need patients who cant sit still long enough to properly brush their teeth with manual mode (1,2,18). Ideally we should replace our toothbrush when it begins to show wear or every three months whichever comes first as a worn toothbrush can damage gum tissue. Interesting fact found in this study that Interdental cleaning aids and tongue cleaners stands to be very popular among dental students as all 252 students use one or more cleaning aids. Maximum students (73.41%) were reported using water for rinsing and only 23.80% of them were using mouthwashes this shows that though students are aware of teeth cleaning habits more emphasis should be given on use of mouthwashes. JOHCD www.johcd.org January 2016;10(1) 33
Table 8: Other cleaning aids used Floss Interdental Brush Tongue Cleaner 34 18 200 (13.49%) (7.14%) (79.36%) Oral health knowledge is an essential prerequisite for oral health related behaviors (3) earlier studies (1-4, 6, 7, 19) have shown dental students to be lacking in self motivation to practice basic preventive oral health habits. since dental professional students specialize in preventive information and health promotion it is important that their own oral health knowledge is good and confirms to professional recommendations.some studies have also shown that there is association between oral health knowledge and oral health (20,6) with proper knowledge and practice they can play an important role in oral health education (17,1,12,5). These students are well aware of most important aspects of oral health i.e. use of fluoridated toothpaste, use of soft or medium bristled toothbrushes, brushing twice daily,rinsing, use of mouthwashes. however in some areas their knowledge was poor i.e frequency of changing brush. similar results were found in some recent studies(7) but some studies have also shown that there is need to improve dental health knowledge among dental students (9) dental hygiene students (10), other students (13,4) and teachers (14,15). CONCLUSION Most of the dental students are well aware of dental hygiene More emphasis on dental health care should be developed and maintained during education in order to improve the overall health of students. Health education needs to be done at colleges for establishing proper toothbrushing and other oral health practices. REFERENCES 1. Abraham NJ,Cirincione UK,Glass RT: Dentists and Dental hygienists attitudes toward toothbrush replacement and maintenance. Clin Prev Dent 1990;12:28-33. 2. Al Tamini S, Peterson PE. Oral health situation of schoolchildren, mothers and schools teachers in Saudi Arabia. Int Dent J 1998;48:180-86. 3. Ashley FP: Role of dental health education in preventive dentistry. In prevention of dental disease: 3rd edtion Edited by murray JJ. Oxford: Oxford University press;1996:406-14. 4. Astrom AN, Masulu JR. Oral health behavior patterns among Tanzanion university students: A report cross sectional survey. BMC Oral Health 2001;1:1-12. 5. Brown LF. A Comparison of patients attending general dental practices employing or non employing dental hygienists. Aust Dent J 1996;41:47-52. 6. Hamilton ME, Coulby WM. Oral health knowledge and habits of senior elementary school students. J Publ Health Dent 1991;51:212-18 7. Jsssem Al-Ansari, Eino Honkala and Sisko Honkala. Oral health knowledge and behavior among male health sciences college students in Kuwait. BMC Oral Health 2003;3:2. 8. Kassak KM, Dagher R, Daughan B: Oral hygiene and lifestyle correlates among new undergraduate university students in Lebenan. J Am Coll Health 2001;50:15-20. 9. Kawamura M, Honkala E, Widtrom E, Komabayashi T. Cross cultured differences of self reported oral health behaviour in Japanese and Finnesh dental students. Int Dent J 2000;50:46-50. 10. Kim KJ, Komabayashi T, Moon SE, Goo KM, Okada M, Kawamura M. Oral health behaviour and gingival self care levelof korean dental students. J Oral Sci 2002;43:49-53. 11. Kulak Ozkan Y, Ozkan Y, Kazazoglu E Arikan: Dental caries prevalence,tooth brushing and periodontal status in 150young people in Istanbul : A pilot study. Int Dent J 2001;51:451-56. 12. Mcgonaughy FL, Lucken KM, Toevs SE. Health promotion behaviors of private practice dental hygienists. J Dent Hyg 1991;65:222-30. 13. Murtomaa H, Turtola l, Rytomaa I. Dental health practices among Finnish university students. Proc Fin Dent Soc 1989;80:155-61. 14. Peterson PE, Danila I Samolia A. Oral health behavior,knowledge and attitides of children, mothers and schoolteachers in Romalia in1993. Acta odontol Scand 1995;53:363-68. 15. Sgan Cohen HD, Saadi S, Weissman A. Dental knowledge and attitudes among Arab schoolteachers in northern israel. Int Dent J 1999;49:269-74. 16. Stenberg P Hakkason J, Akerman. Attitudes to dental health and care among 20-25 year old Swedes: result from questionnaire. Acta Odontol Scand 2000;58:102-06. 17. Ultenbrock DG, Schauls RMM, Tromp JAH, Kaut JH. Dental hygienists influence on the patients knowledge, motivation,self care and perception of change. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 1989;17:87-90. 18. V Sikri P, Sikri Community dentistry CBS First Edition 1999. 19. Vigild M, Peterson PE, Hadi R. Oral health behavior of 12 year old children in Kuwait. Int J Paediatr Dent 1999;9:23-29. 20. Woodgroove J, Cumbebatch G, Gylbier S. Understanding dental attendance behaviour. Community Dent Health 1987;4:215-21. 34 JOHCD www.johcd.org January 2016;10(1)