Evaluation of Tooth Brushing in Slovak Patients with Sclerosis Multiplex

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the issue of teeth brushing according to age, gender and length in Slovak patients with multiple sclerosis disease (MS). Material and Methods: In this descriptive study, the questionnaires were collected in neurologists from December 2016 until September 2017. The study sample consisted of 103 MS patients (44.7% of men) in the mean age of 38.4 ± 9.95 years. The study sample of MS patients was divided into two subgroups. The first subgroup consisted of MS patients who were restricted in teeth brushing (n=56) and the second group of MS patients, which had no restrictions in teeth brushing (n=47). Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the absolute and relative frequencies, mean and standard deviation. A two-sample ttest was used to compare the proportion between subgroups with restrictions and subgroup no restrictions in teeth brushing. The statistically significant level was determined at p<0.05. Results: The significant higher mean age (40.4 ± 10.8 years) was found in MS patients who had restrictions in teeth brushing (p=0.043). Females described often no restrictions in teeth brushing than males (59.6% vs. 40.4%; p<0.05). Length in MS disease (≤3 years) has a significant impact on patients who were not found restrictions in teeth brushing (31.9%; p=0.037). Conclusion: We recommend an individual doctor approach to MS patients in older age and using of electric toothbrushes in MS patients who have hand functioning restrictions.