To investigate the self-reported impact of hyposalivation/xerostomia on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) reported by polymedicated patients and evaluate the association between hyposalivation/xerostomia and OHRQoL. A cross-sectional observational study was performed on 40 polymedicated patients selected from the Clínica Dentária Egas Moniz. The subjects signed a consent form, answered a questionnaire to assess xerostomia via the Summated Xerostomia Inventory (SXI-PL) and The Portuguese short version of the Oral Health Impact Profile Questionnaire (OHIP-14sp), and underwent sialometry evaluation. Patients with hyposalivation showed higher scores of SXI-PL (8.60 ± 2.56) and OHIP-14sp (16.0 ± 15.8). These findings suggest an association between hyposalivation and SXI-PL and OHIP-14sp scores (p < 0.05).
Introduction Preventive dental care is an essential component of comprehensive health care and early epidemiological diagnosis plays a crucial role in the secondary prevention of oral disease [ 1 , 2 ]. The aim is to characterise oral hygiene habits, to measure dental plaque and gingivitis. Materials and methods On behalf the "VI edition of the health fair of Alhos Vedros", promoted by UCSP (Personalize Self-Care Unit) of Alhos Vedros – Portugal in 2018, with the theme "Health goes to school". Resorted to basic and disposable observation material, we observed a population composed with children, adults and elderly people and registered the presence of visible plaque and gingivitis ( Figures 1–3 ). Subjects were answered two questions about oral hygiene habits. The sample was obtained by convenience and treated descriptively by the prevalence of cases. Figure 1. Prevalence of visible dental plaque. Figure 2. Prevalence of gingivitis among the population. Figure 3. Prevalence of oral hygiene habits among the population. Results Twenty-nine people were observed, aged 5–77 years. 79% of individuals brushed their teeth twice or more times daily, with a higher brushing frequency among the younger population. 65.5% of the individuals brushed their teeth with toothpaste, and 34.5% used toothpaste associated with a mouthwash (without plaque developer). 76% of the population observed had visible plaque, and more than half were children aged between 5–14 years. 48.3% of the population had gingivitis, most frequently on the adult population (68.4%), compared to 31.6% in the population aged 5–14 years ( Figures 1–3 ). Discussion and conclusions The youngest population has higher prevalence values for brushing and bacterial plaque. The prevalence of gingivitis was higher in the adult population. The use of bacterial plaque developer may benefit the oral hygiene of this population.
It is therefore extremely important that toothbrushes are stored in a suitable place, and undergo frequent disinfection, in order to prevent the growth of microorganisms. The bristles can, therefore, be contaminated thanks to the oral cavity itself or the surrounding environment. [3] The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial contamination of covered (CT) versus uncovered toothbrushes (UT). Materials and methods: After study approval by the Ethics Committee of the Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Egas Moniz (Protocol 587), students of Dentistry at Instituto Universit ario Egas Moniz were invited to participate in this study. Inclusion criteria: being capable of performing daily oral hygiene and signing the informed consent. Exclusion criteria: not following the protocol or being under the effect of antibiotics or antifungals. Following the informed consent, each participant was given a toothbrush and instructions regarding its use of oral hygiene, for 3 weeks. The participants were divided by simple random sampling, in two groups of 15 participants each, according to the toothbrush being covered or uncovered. After the 3 weeks period, the toothbrushes were collected and processed in order to evaluate the microbial content. They were submerged in a sterile saline solution which was used to inoculate different culture medium. Results: The sample was composed of 30 students, 77% of them women, with an average age of 21.9 (±1.7) years. All the CT (100%) showed viable aerobic microorganisms isolates (2.3 Â 10 6 ± 2.2 Â 10 6 cfu/toothbrush), but on UT only 93.3% presented microorganisms growth (1.2 Â 10 6 ± 1.9 Â 10 6 ). No beta hemolytic microorganisms were found in both CT and UT, and alfa hemolytic were found only in CT (20%). Staphylococcus mannitol positive were found on 66.6% of CT and 53.3% of UT. Oral Streptococci were isolated in 37.3% of CT, and in 30.6% of UT. Enterobacteriaceae were isolated in both CT and UT in an identical percentage (33.3%), being E. coli isolated in a higher percentage in CT (20% vs. 6.6% on UT). Candida albicans was only isolated on UT (on 6.6% of samples). Discussion and conclusions: Our results show that toothbrushes were heavily contaminated with different microorganisms, and suggest that contamination does not depend on toothbrush covering.
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