INTRODUCTION:

An important component of general health and overall quality of life is oral health. It can have an impact on overall quality of life. Even if there are many dental products available, the dental diseases are increasing more and more in the world^[1].Inconvenience in people's appearance, social functions and daily activities can lead to bad oral health. Changes in the lifestyle factor like use of tobacco and consumption of alcohol have a significant impact on oral health. Oral diseases qualify as a major public health concern. Recently recognized most important environmental risk factor in oral cancer and periodontitis is cigarette smoking. It also increases the susceptibility to periodontitis. People should be given proper guidance to brush their teeth twice a day, on regular basis with a fluoridated tooth paste. Important to use adjunct cleaning aids such as dental floss and mouth rinses for good oral hygiene. For preserving oral health and for preventing oral diseases oral self care such as toothbrushing and flossing are important^[2].

The important factor for the onset of hard and soft tissue diseases is plaque^[3,4,5,6]. Tooth brushing is the most effective and widespread way to control plaque at home^[7]. The effectiveness and safety of dental hygiene products is influenced by many factors such as brushing technique, frequency, duration, pressure, characteristics of toothbrush bristles, flossing and use of toothpaste^[8,9]. The aim of this study is to examine self reported oral hygiene behavior, smoking habits and perceived oral health problems among the students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at various colleges. The study included 120 undergraduate dental students in all the five years. The purpose of the study was to find out the status of oral hygiene among the dental students. The students who were willing to participate were given questionnaire and asked to complete. The questionnaire is as follows:

1. Do you use mouthwash regularly? YES / NO

2. Do you use toothpick regularly YES / NO

3. Do you have tooth decay? YES / NO

4. Do you have bleeding gums? YES / NO

5. Do you have dryness of mouth? YES / NO

6. Do you smoke? YES / NO

7. Is your tongue coated with white or yellowish deposits? YES / NO

8. Do you use toothbrush with hard bristles? YES / NO

9. Do you brush twice a day? YES / NO

10. Do you check your teeth in mirror after brushing? YES / NO

11. Do you use floss? YES / NO

12. Do your gums tend to bleed when you brush? YES/ NO

13. Do you go for a regular dental check up? YES / NO

14. Do you use miswak everyday? YES/ NO

15. Do you use miswak and toothbrush regularly?

i. YES/ NO

OBSERVATION

Table 1: Percentage of Positive and Negative Response from The Questionnaire:

Questions	Yes(%)	No(%)
1. Do you use miswak (chewing sticks) everyday?	5%	95%
2. Do you use miswak and toothbrush regularly?	95%	5%
3. Do you use mouthwash regularly?	95.5%	4.5%
4. Do you use toothpick regularly?	25%	75%
5. Do you have tooth decay?	20.45%	79.55%
6. Do you have bleeding gums?	9.2%	90.8%
7. Do you have dryness of mouth?	5.45%	94.55%
8. Do you smoke?	0.05%	99.95%
9. Is your tongue coated with white or yellowish deposits?	49.5%	50.5%
10. Do you use toothbrush with hard bristles?	4.35%	95.65%
11. Do you brush twice a day?	86.76%	13.24%
12. Do you check your teeth in mirror after brushing?	76.9%	23.1%
13. Do you use floss?	43.2%	56.8%
14. Do your gums tend to bleed when you brush?	3.45%	96.55%
15. Do you go for a regular dental check up?	85%	15%

Fig1.1: Male and female ratio participants

Fig:1.2: Different years of BDS students who participated:-

RESULTS:

According to the observation the students of the University have a good oral hygiene. Most of the students cleaned their teeth twice a day. Almost none had smoking habits. The I BDS students responded more positively and it decreased as years passed by. Mostly the females were ready to answer the questionnaire than the males.The statistics and data was done using spss software version 9.0.

DISCUSSION

Dental students are future oral health providers. Since they have that role in our society, it is interesting to analyze and compare oral health attitudes and behavior of dental students in different years of study. Recent studies confirmed that progression through the curriculum, and the consequent rise in knowledge, is associated with improved oral health behavior and attitudes among dental students in higher academic years^[10,11,13].It seems that cultural differences between Western and Eastern societies play a certain role in students’ attitudes toward and perceptions of oral health behavior. 78 percent of Chinese and 68 percent of Indian dental students said they do not worry about visiting the dentist, whereas only 23.5 percent of Croatian students agreed with that statement^[10,13].The same contrast was observed with the statement that they put off going to the dentist until having a toothache: 54 percent of Chinese and 68 percent of Indian students agreed, and only 13.7 percent of Croatian students agreed with that opinion^[10,12]. According to these studies there are different perceptions in different places dealing with health. A study in Romania revealed behavioral and attitude differences between genders among dental students,38 our study did not confirm that assessment. Similar results to ours were reported in Australia and India^[14]

In this study we can observe that the students take care of their oral cavity. We can see that nearly 95% of the students use toothbrush regularly. For better health all most everyone use mouthwash. This shows that the students have a good care about their own health. But since the first year students don't know much they use toothpick. But otherwise other years do not use. Mostly no one even smokes. And the students also use floss instead of toothpick. Because they know that toothpick would hurt their gums. And only a very minimal amount of students only have bleeding gums when they brush. And also in this case of bristles the first years are found to use the brushes with hard bristles, otherwise all other don't use. This shows that as years pass by the students are more aware and tend to improve. As all the dentist say to come for a regular dental check up, even the students follow it. And mostly all the students go for a regular dental check up. Only a very less students have dryness of mouth. Others know how to alter it.

CONCLUSION:

The survey shows that the dental students have a good overall dental hygiene. This includes the students of all the year. Majority cleaned their teeth twice. Smoking habit was not exhibited by vast students. The main aim of the study i.e to create awareness among the students was achieved. The students were given more knowledge which will help them to put up various oral hygiene camps, awareness programs etc. It was found out that the final year students were more knowledgeable regarding oral hygiene practices than the other years.

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Received on 23.04.2016 Modified on 23.05.2016

Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2016; 9(11): 1840-1842

DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X.2016.00375.9