Oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior in Baghdad University

الملخص EN

Background : The risk behaviors for dental caries and periodontal disease include frequent intake of sugary foods and drinks, irregular tooth brushing, smoking, alcohol consumption and irregular dental attendance.

These risk behaviors that can be detrimental to the oral health could be habitual from early childhood or be initiated during adolescence related to an emerging autonomy from parental influence .

Therefore, the aim of this study to assess the oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior of first stage students in some college in Baghdad university except medical and dentistry students.

Materials and methods : An epidemiological study was conducted in 2010.

We were gave the questioners on 300 students from non dental or medical college of Baghdad university.

Their age range from 18 to 20, all in first stage of their studies.

The assessment of oral health knowledge of this sample of students includes 14 questions.

Results : 76 % believe the gingivitis not inheritance disease, 58 % of them said periodontal pocket mean space between gingival and tooth, 21 % said there are a relation between diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease, 92 % said that necessary to remove plaque from teeth, brushing of teeth not enough for good oral health according to 84 % they answered, 11 % of them used dental floss, only 20 % believed that disclosing agent appear plaque, 24 % said that the calculus removing helpful to control periodontal disease, only 22 % believed that the number of deciduous teeth are 20, 16 % of them said that the first molar is the first permanent tooth appear in mouth, 46 % said that a cause of teeth sensitivity related to presence of caries, because of esthetic, compensation of lost teeth is important 38 % said, 90 % said there are mouth wash liquid to remove plaque, and finally only 36 % of them believed that two time of teeth brushing is enough for oral health.

Conclusion : The oral health behavior of the students was dependent on the attitude, but did not show a linear relationship with the oral health knowledge, indicating that knowledge was not enough to influence the oral health behavior.

(J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2011;23(1):77-80).