Md. Akhtar-Uz-Zaman1, Tanusree Sarkar2, Saber Ahmed Shimul3, Shamrat Adnan Chowdhury4
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, North East Medical College, Sylhet.
2. Associate Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, North East Medical College, Sylhet.
3. Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine, North East Medical College, Sylhet.
4. Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine, North East Medical College, Sylhet.
Abstract
Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping one’s mouth clean and free of disease by regular brushing of the teeth and care of the mouth. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge and practices of oral hygiene among the two selected villages of Golapgonj upozila, Sylhet from September 2019 to December 2019. Respondents (120) were selected purposively and data were collected by using a semi structured questionnaire. Among the respondents highest proportion 45(37.5%) belonged to the 18-25 years age group, majority were female (64.17%), house wife (64%) and educated upto secondary level (40%). All the respondents (100%) had idea about tooth brushing. Majority (75%) of the respondents had idea that tooth brushing is necessary twice a day and almost 73.33% respondents practice it regularly. Highest (67.5%) proportion of respondents knew that tooth brushing is necessary in morning and also at night and 64.17% respondents practice it. Regarding time requirement for each brushing, 54.17% said more than two minutes is necessary for each tooth brushing and 55.83% practice it. About 87.5% respondentshad idea that tooth brush and tooth paste is necessary tools for brushing teeth and 77.5% used these for their tooth brushing. Majority (89.1%) of our respondents had idea about rinsing mouth and 83.02% used to rinse their mouth. 73.33% respondents said that they have idea about tongue cleaning and 65.91%used to cleantongue by their tooth brush. About 52.5% & 62.5% respondents never noticed gum bleeding and foul breath respectively and most (74.17%) of the respondents had idea about the relationship between oral health and general health. Majority (70%) have ideaabout dental checkup. Chewing of betel nutis one of the cause of poor oral hygiene said by 48.33% respondents. About 59% respondents said that poor oral hygiene is the commonest consequence of dental carries. Most of the respondents (53.33%) acquired knowledge regarding oral hygiene from their parents.
Key Words: Oral Hygiene, Knowledge, Practice and Rural