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Abstract
Introduction: Oral hygiene has an impact on a person’s health as well as on social life. Toothpastes, Miswak, toothpicks, and dental floss are the different methods of cleaning the mouth.
Objectives: The objectives were to determine the practices of oral hygiene among undergraduate students of a medical university. Also, it aimed to determine the effect of eating habits on oral health, along with the effect of oral health on a person’s daily life activities.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 301 participants using the WHO Standardized Oral Hygiene Questionnaire for Adults. Participants filled out online forms after giving consent. Collected data was processed using descriptive analysis based on WHO guidelines, and the prevalence of practicing oral hygiene measures and their relevance to eating habits was assessed. The analysis was done using SPSS v27.
Results: Results showed that 177 of 301 students (58.8%) cleaned their teeth once daily and 107 (35.5%) twice or more per day. Toothpaste is a common method of cleaning teeth, as 297/301 students (98.7%) use it, with the use of fluoride toothpaste by 207 (69.7%) participants. Dental visits frequency was: 43 (14.3%) visited in 2-5 years, 58 (19.3%) visited in >5 years, 31 (10.3%) visited in 6-12 months, 44 (14.6) visited in <6 months, 30 (10%) visited in 1-2 years, and 95 (31.6%) never received dental care. Eating jam or honey was related to tooth pain (p-value = 0.029).
Conclusion: The study showed that students had overall good oral hygiene practices and dental status. But regular dental checkups must be made compulsory, and students should be encouraged to maintain their oral hygiene.
Keywords: Hygiene, Oral, Medical Students