Assessment of oral and dental health care awareness in school going children

The physical and psychological well-being of individuals are significantly influenced by their oral health, impacting growth, appearance, speech, chewing, taste, and socialization. Dental caries are a major public health issue, particularly among children and adolescents, with high prevalence rates reported. This study focused on the age group of 11-15 years from a Government high school, with a final sample size of 120 participants. Data were collected using a pre-designed and semi-structured questionnaire, which included components such as socio-demographic profile, an oral cavity examination, awareness about oral hygiene and dental caries, and the frequency of toothache. The study revealed that 29.1% and 19% of the participants had good and poor health of teeth, respectively, while 34.1% and 15.8% had good and poor gum health status. Toothache was reported as a frequent complaint by 28.3% of the participants, occasionally by 52.5%, rarely by 9.1%, and never by 10%. Pain or trouble with teeth was the reason for visiting a dentist for 26.6% of the participants, and 51.66% visited a dentist for follow-up treatment. Consumption of sugar-associated food items such as biscuits, cakes, cream cakes, sweet pies, etc. several times a day was reported by 71.6% of the participants. The study also found that the educational status of mothers was significantly associated with the dental and oral health of their children, with those having uneducated mothers having average and poor dental and oral health. Most of the participants had average gum and teeth health and cleaned their teeth only once a day. None of the participants visited a dentist for a routine check-up of teeth, and a substantial number of participants missed their activities due to toothache. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of oral health in physical and psychological well-being and the need for awareness and education about oral hygiene and dental caries, particularly among children and adolescents. It also emphasizes the significance of regular dental check-ups and avoiding the consumption of sugar-associated food items to maintain good oral health.