Prevalence of Myths Regarding Oral Health, among Patients Attending a Dental Institute: A Study from Taif, Saudi Arabia

Alharthi, Mohammed Mastour; Holenarasipur, Amith Vasantakumar; Al-Harthi, Hussam Ibrahim; Althobaiti, Fahad A.; Al-Otaibi, Hezam Ali; Aldawood, Mohammed Mamdouh

doi:10.7860/jcdr/2019/41907.13125

Cited by 2 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…The participants were unaware that it is important to use a proper brushing technique, rather than forceful brushing, which leads to abrasion of the teeth. The prevalence of this myth was less prevalent in this study compared to a similar one done in a different region in Saudi Arabia, Taif City, by Al-Harthi et al [ 5 ], who found a prevalence rate of 31% in their sample. Moreover, Vignesh and Priyadarshni [ 1 ] studied the prevalence of dental myths in Maduravoyal and found that 70% of the sample believed in this particular myth [ 1 ].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 73%

“…The prevalence of this myth in this study was less than that found in the study in Taif City, where 34% of the sample preferred using Miswak and 66% preferred using toothpaste. Moreover, compared to a study done in India, where 57% preferred using tree sticks, 43% opted for using toothpaste for cleaning the teeth [ 1 , 5 ]. Miswak has potent antimicrobial and antiplaque substances; however, its use can cause trauma to the gingiva [ 1 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The questionnaire consisted of two sections: the first section included independent variables and demographic data such as age, gender, level of education, and source of information, and the second section included the dependent variables of the dental myth assessment. The second section consisted of 14 items, for which the participants indicated their agreement or disagreement [ 5 ]. A standardized questionnaire in the English language having good validity and reliability-a content validity ratio of 0.87 and internal consistency of 0.82, respectively-was used [ 5 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The second section consisted of 14 items, for which the participants indicated their agreement or disagreement [ 5 ]. A standardized questionnaire in the English language having good validity and reliability-a content validity ratio of 0.87 and internal consistency of 0.82, respectively-was used [ 5 ]. Excellent linguistic validity was obtained to administer the questionnaire to study participants in Arabic using the forward-backward-forward translation technique.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some common myths are that professional scaling leads to tooth mobility, sensitivity, and interdental spacing, the usage of stiff bristles, coal, or salt makes teeth whiter, one should not brush if the gingiva bleeds, the extracted teeth need not be replaced by artificial teeth as the latter are made of the teeth of other individuals [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]. A series of folk tales surrounding exfoliated teeth indicate the existence of various myths across the globe.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Some Dental Myths Among the Adult Population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

T.A.¹,

Khinda²,

Alghamdi³

et al. 2023

Cureus

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BackgroundTo provide effective oral health care to patients and healthy individuals, it is critical to recognize prevalent myths. Most myths cause patients to follow the wrong protocol in dentistry, which can make treatment difficult for the dentist. This study aimed to assess dental myths among the Saudi Arabian population in Riyadh. MethodologyA descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among Riyadh adults between August and October 2021. Saudi nationals aged 18-65 living in Riyadh without cognitive, hearing, or vision impairments and with limited or no trouble interpreting the questionnaire were surveyed. Only participants who consented to participate in the study were included. JMP Pro 15.2.0 was used to evaluate survey data. Frequency and percentage distributions were used for dependent and independent variables. The chi-square test evaluated the statistical significance of the variables, with a p-value of 0.05 being considered statistically significant. ResultsA total of 433 participants completed the survey. Half of the sample (50%) were aged 18-28; 50% were men; and 75% had a college degree. Higher-educated men and women did better on the survey. In particular, 80% of the participants believed "teething causes fever." "Placing a (pain killer) tablet on a tooth reduces pain" was believed by 34.40% of the participants, and 26% thought pregnant women should not get dental work. Lastly, 79% of the participants believed that "infants obtain calcium from their mother's teeth and bone." Most sources of these pieces of information were online (62.60%). ConclusionsNearly half of the participants believe in dental health myths, and as a result, people follow unhealthy practices. This results in long-term health consequences. The government and health professionals must prevent the spread of such misconceptions. In this regard, dental health education may be helpful. Most of this study's crucial findings are consistent with those of prior studies, indicating its accuracy.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 73%