ABSTRACT
This study had been conducted to assess oral hygiene status, gingival health status and oral hygiene habits among school children of both high and low socioeconomic status in Ismailia City. A total of 1335 school children aged 11<14 years attending preparatory schools were included in the study. Children were grouped according to socioeconomic status, age and sex. Oral hygiene status and gingival health status were assessed using OHI-S and Gingival Index respectively. Oral hygiene habits as brushing frequency, timing of brushing and use. of other oral hygiene measures [miswak] were investigated. The results of this study showed that children of high socioeconomic level had better oral hygiene and gingival health than children of low socioeconomic level. Mean OHI-S and GI scores reached a peak at 13<14 in boys and 12<13 in girls. Girls of high socioeconomic group had better oral hygiene and gingival health than boys, and reverse was found in low socioeconomic group. Children of high socioeconomic level were found to brush their teeth and use miswak more frequently than children of low socioeconomic level. A multivariate study showed that oral hygiene was affected sequentially by following factors; brushing frequency, socioeconomic status and timing of brushing. While gingival health was found to be affected by socioeconomic status, brushing frequency, estimated age, and timing of brushing