Dental myths, oral hygiene methods and nicotine habits in an ageing rural population: An Indian study

Abstract

Background: Though, increased emphasis is being given on spreading dental care facilities and awareness in Indian villages, the target population is unfortunately less literate and is not financially equipped compared to their urban counterparts. The rural aged additionally may have to face problems like desertion by the educated youth to follow better opportunities in cities, disease, and lack of mobility. Aims: The present study strived to evaluate dental myths, oral hygiene methods, and tobacco habits awareness in a rural ageing population in the perspective of a changing India. Setting and Design: The study area consisted of a group of ten villages, situated in district Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Materials and Methods: The subjects were questioned about dental myths, tobacco habits, and oral hygiene methods and then divided into groups on the basis of age, sex, and educational status. The number of sound teeth in each subject was also counted. Statistical Analysis: Mean-values, standard deviation, Chi-square test and P values were used to make inter-group comparisons. Results and Conclusion: Forty percent of the subjects considered oral hygiene unnecessary, 60.8% of the population was relying on simple mouth rinsing for maintaining oral hygiene, 48% had either the habit of smoking and chewing tobacco or both and 81% of the subjects had one dental myth or the other. We concluded that the rural aged is a deprived lot and a targeted program to infuse scientific dental practices in them is necessary.

Keywords

• Dental myths
• nicotine
• oral hygiene
• rural