Awareness and Practice of Oral Health Measures in Medina, Saudi Arabia: An Observational Study

Abstract

The aim of this observational study is to investigate the oral health status and practices in the multicultural community of Medina, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional questionnaire was distributed that asked about oral health, dental and periodontal conditions, personal attitudes toward dental care, and smoking habits. Cross tabulation with chi-squared testing was carried out to investigate the association of toothbrush usage and smoking with several variables. Four-hundred and sixty subjects enrolled in the study. The majority of the respondents were students and Saudi males. More than 75% of the participants had neither a family dentist nor dental insurance; 7% were smokers, 84% used a toothbrush, 17% used dental floss and 34% used miswak (a teeth cleaning twig made from the Salvadora persica tree). Some of the individuals complained of tooth sensitivity, halitosis and bleeding gums. The main reason for dental visits was pain, with 23% of the participants having never visited a dentist. Tooth brushing was significantly associated with gender, nationality, occupation, education, marital status, having kids and dental insurance (p ≤ 0.05). Tobacco consumption was significantly associated with age, occupation, education level, marital status, having children, having bleeding gingivae and halitosis. Effective dental education programs are needed to improve dental knowledge and awareness in the Medina community.

Factors associated with halitosis reported by parents/caregivers in individuals with Down syndrome

“…In the present study, the report of halitosis was 34.4% among individuals with DS, regardless of age groups. This finding is in agreement with other studies on the prevalence of self-reported halitosis in the normotypic population 11,25,26 and are reinforced by the findings of a systematic review with population-based studies that found a prevalence of 31.8% (24.6−39.0%). 17 This systematic review indicated that the diagnostic method (selfreport, organoleptic evaluation and analysis of volatile sulfur compounds) does not seem to influence the prevalence of halitosis.…”

“…The increased occurrence of halitosis with increasing age was previously reported in children 27 . Most halitosis studies were carried out in the adult population 11,17,26 . Studies in children and adolescents showed prevalence rates of 17% to 40%, with self‐reported halitosis being the most frequent (39.67%) 25,27,28 .…”

Characteristics of Individuals in Japan Who Regularly Manage Their Oral Health by Having a Family Dentist: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey

“…With regard to the status of having a family dentist, there are differences among countries. For example, a Canadian study shows 95% of the participants having a family dentist [ 20 ], a Saudi Arabian study shows 22% [ 22 ], and a South African study shows 3% [ 24 ]. However, since healthcare systems vary from country to country, it is impossible to simply compare these proportion values.…”

“…Hence, the Japan Dental Association is enlightening the Japanese people to have a family dentist with whom they can consult for any oral health issues [ 14 ]. It has been reported that the system and ratio of having a family dentist varies greatly from country to country [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]; however, generally, having a family dentist is associated with maintaining good oral health status [ 16 , 19 , 23 ]. Furthermore, the studies conducted in this country showing the percentage and characteristics of those having a family dentist in certain local regions exist [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]; however, few studies have analyzed them on a nationwide scale.…”

Oral health providers’ views of oral health promotion in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study

“…Despite the government's efforts, the population's awareness of preventive oral healthcare is limited for various reasons, including the absence of structured prevention and education programs, and a lack of awareness campaigns [12,13]. Financial constraints can contribute to the low awareness levels among the population.…”