Oral Health Knowledge and Oral Hygiene Habits in a Sample of 12-Year-Old Hispanics: A Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between hygiene knowledge and habits and gingivitis in Puerto Rican school children. METHODS: Questionnaires on oral health knowledge and hygiene habits were provided to almost half of the 12-year-olds who participated in an island-wide cross-sectional oral health study. The evaluations included gingival examinations in 2 quadrants. Odds ratios (ORs) (with 95% CIs) were computed using logistic regression models and oral health-related knowledge and hygiene habits to gingivitis. RESULTS: Of the 823 participants who completed the questionnaire 53.43% were female, and 81% had gingivitis. Most reported having received instructions on brushing (98%), flossing (89.5%), and using mouthwash (90%). The majority (75%) rated their gums as healthy, and 44.68% agreed that oral health affects general health. Nearly half (44%) reported brushing their teeth at least 2 times a day, and 80.25%, flossing daily. In multivariate analysis, not having been instructed on how to brush was related to greater odds of having gingivitis (OR: 7.32; 95% CI: 1.5-35.67). Flossing more than once a day was associated with half the odds of gingivitis (OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.29-0.88). CONCLUSION: The children had knowledge of oral hygiene methods but were mostly unaware that gingival health could affect systemic health. Fewer than half reported brushing 2 or more times a day. Not having been instructed on how to brush was associated with higher odds of gingivitis.

Impact of Puppet Theater on Oral Health Knowledge and Oral Hygiene in Preschoolers from a Peruvian Educational Institution: A Quasi-experimental Study.

Aim: The puppet theater, due to its artistic and educational characteristics, could allow children to develop oral health self-care in an attractive and fun way. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of puppet theater on oral health knowledge and oral hygiene in preschoolers from a Peruvian public school. Materials and Methods: An analytical, longitudinal, and quasi-experimental study was conducted in 132 preschoolers divided into three age-matched groups (3, 4, and 5 years old) from August to November 2019 in a Peruvian public school. At 4 weeks and 4 months after performing the puppet theater, a validated questionnaire of five closed questions was used to evaluate oral health knowledge, and the Greene-Vermillion index [only bacterial plaque index (BPI) part] was used to evaluate oral hygiene, considering good (0-0.6), fair (0.7-1.8), and poor (1.9-3.0). The theater sessions were held every week for the first month and every 2 weeks for the following 3 months. To analyze the levels in the BPI, the Wilcoxon and Friedman test was used to compare related measures, and to compare the knowledge for each question of the questionnaire, the McNemar and Cochran's Q tests were used, considering a P-value less than 0.05. Results: The BPI in relation to age (3, 4, and 5 years), before and after 4 months of performing the puppet theater, was 1.9 [confidence interval (CI): 1.7-2.0], 1.8 (CI: 1.6-1.9), and 1.8 (CI: 1.7-2.0), decreasing to 0.9 (CI: 0.8-1.0), 0.8 (CI: 0.7-0.9), and 0.9 (CI: 0.8-1.00), respectively. In relation to gender (men and women), it was 1.8 (CI: 1.7-2.0) and 1.8 (CI: 1.7-1.9), decreasing to 0.9 (CI: 0.8-1.0) and 0.8 (CI: 0.8-0.9), respectively. In relation to origin (urban or rural), it was 1.8 (CI: 1.7-1.9) and 1.8 (CI: 1.4-2.2), decreasing to 0.9 (CI: 0.8-0.9) and 0.8 (CI: 0.7-0.9), respectively. The level of BPI and oral health knowledge improved significantly (P < 0.001) over time in all preschoolers, except in those who came from the rural area (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The application of the puppet theater positively influenced the preschoolers in such a way that it significantly improved their oral health knowledge and oral hygiene at 4 weeks and 4 months, in both genders of 3, 4, and 5 years of age, and in those whose origin was the urban area. However, no significant improvements in oral health knowledge and oral hygiene were observed in those preschoolers whose origin was the rural area.

Influence of small-group experiential learning of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine on the oral health knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors of elderly patients with diabetes

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at the oral health problems of elderly patients with diabetes. A training course of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine was constructed, helping patients improve their oral health quality of life. METHODS: A randomized controlled prospective experimental study was conducted. A total of 190 elderly patients were divided randomly into an observation group and a control group with 95 cases in each. The control group received regular health education, while the observation group was based on the control group to implement the integrated experiential learning of traditional Chinese and Western medicine in small groups. The oral health knowledge, attitude, behavior, and blood glucose control status along with the oral health quality of life of the two groups were compared before the intervention and at 3-month postintervention. RESULTS: Three months after the intervention, the fasting blood glucose control and the 2-h postprandial blood glucose/glycosylated hemoglobin levels in the observation group were significantly better than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The oral health quality of life in the observation group was significantly better than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The small-group experiential learning model of integrated Chinese and Western medicine can promote the transformation of knowledge-beliefs-behaviors in elderly patients with diabetes, which is conducive to controlling blood sugar levels and improving the quality of oral health.

Oral Health Behavior Change in Mexican-American Caregivers: A Community-Based Intervention Study.

An oral health prevention intervention was conducted with Mexican-American (MA) caregivers, focused on improving their oral health knowledge, behavior, and self-efficacy. Five in-person intervention sessions were conducted with caregivers, followed by a 15 min skill-building exercise. A goal-setting sheet was provided, and two goals were chosen for fulfilment during the three month intervention period. The data on parental oral health knowledge, behavior, and self-efficacy were collected pre- and post-intervention using a portion of Basic Factors Research Questionnaire (BRFQ). Paired t-tests were conducted to test significant differences in the means of pre- and post-intervention oral health behavior, knowledge, and self-efficacy scores, and pre- and post-intervention individual item scores. Forty six primary caregivers were enrolled. There were significant differences in the means of pre- and post-intervention oral health knowledge (p = 0.003), oral health behavior (p = 0.0005), and self-efficacy scores (p = 0.001). The individual item mean scores showed that there was a significant increase in the number of times caregivers checked for spots (p = 0.016) and a significant decrease in the consumption of sweet or sugary drinks (p = 0.032) post-intervention. Most of the caregivers believed that cavities were caused by germs in the mouth (p = 0.001), sharing utensils with children was bad for their teeth (p < 0.001), and fluoride toothpaste was best for a child's teeth (p < 0.001). The intervention resulted in improved caregiver oral health knowledge, behavior, and self-efficacy.

Componentes culturales que influyen en la salud bucal / Cultural components that influence oral health

El propósito de este trabajo es realizar una revisión bibliográfica acerca de los conocimientos, las actitudesy las prácticas en salud bucal (CAPSB), tres componentes culturales que influyen en la incidencia de afecciones de la cavidad oral. La cultura y sus componentes han pasado por tres fases en su conceptualización: la concreta, la abstracta y la simbólica; esta última es la que se encuentra vigente y sobre la cual otras áreas del conocimiento han trabajado, entre ellas, las ciencias de la salud. La cultura es aprendida, estandarizada y compartida. Los componentes culturales son transmitidos mediante los procesos de socialización (primaria y secundaria) que determinan la manera en la que la salud, y por lo tanto el proceso salud-enfermedad, son comprendidos por los individuos. Los conocimientos son resultado deprocesos sociales y cognitivos que están determinados por las características aceptadas y representativas del grupo social en el que se desarrollan, son la parte cognitiva de la cultura. La concepción que cada ser humano tenga acerca de la salud bucal determinará su actitud. La actitud representa una forma de ser, una posición, inclinación o tendencia, es la variable intermedia entre una situación y la manera encómo se responde a ella. Las prácticas ante el proceso salud-enfermedad son acciones observables en los individuos y están presentes en los niveles individual, familiar y comunitario e impactan en la saludgeneral de las poblaciones. Este trabajo es una aproximación al tema, haciendo un acercamiento al casode la población mexicana.

The aim of this work is to review the literature about the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) about oral health, the three cultural components influencing the incidence of diseases at the oral cavity. The concept of culture and its components has undergone three phases: the concrete phase, the abstract phase and the symbolic phase; the latter is the current one, and the one over which other areas of knowledge have worked, including the health sciences. Culture can be learned, standardized and sha-red. Cultural components are transmitted through the processes of socialization (primary and secondary socialization) and they help determine the way in which health, and therefore the health-disease pro-cess, is understood by individuals. Knowledge is the result of social and cognitive processes determined by the characteristics accepted by and representative of the social group where they develop; they are the cognitive part of culture. The notion that every human being has about oral health will determine his/her attitude towards it. Attitude shows a way of being, a position, an inclination or tendency, it is a variable between situations and how people respond to them. Practices to face the health-disease process are actions that can be observed in individuals. They are present at the individual, family and community levels, and they impact on the overall health of the population. This work is an approach to the theme, while we discuss the Mexican population case.

Situación de salud bucal de pacientes mayores de 18 años. Cátedra práctica Clínica Preventiva I, Facultad de Odontología UNNE, Argentina, 2010 / . Preventive Clinic Practicum I, UNNE School of Dentistry, Argentina, 2010

Introducción: con el propósito de conocer la situación de salud bucal de pacientes que asisten a la cátedra práctica, Clínica Preventiva I de la Facultad de odontología de la Universidad nacional del nordeste (Unne), Argentina, se hizo un estudio de cortetransversal en septiembre y octubre del año 2010. Métodos:las variables consideradas fueron: datos sociodemográficos, nivel deconocimientos en salud bucodental, hábitos de higiene bucodental y de consumo de hidratos de carbono, estado gingival, higiene bucal, estadode los dientes y acceso a la atención odontológica. Para la recolección de datos se utilizaron encuestas estructuradas autoadministradasy las historias clínicas de cada paciente. Se analizaron los datos con los programas estadísticos SPSS® 15.0 y epidat®3.1. Resultados: si bien predomina un nivel de conocimientos de salud bucodental bueno, esto no se refleja en los hábitos de higiene oral y en la periodicidad de búsqueda de atención odontológica preventiva. El examen clínico bucodental reveló higiene deficiente, alta prevalencia de gingivitis leve y elevada prevalencia de caries dental y de dientes obturados y perdidos como consecuencia de la misma. Conclusiones: es necesariala búsqueda de estrategias programadas que permitan optimizar la educación sanitaria y mejorar los comportamientos preventivos de lapoblación de estudio.

Introduction: with the intention of identifying the oral health status of patients attending the Preventive Clinic Practicum I at the School of Dentistry, Universidad nacional del nordeste (Unne), Argentina, a cross-sectional study was conducted between September and october 2010. Methods:the variables taken into account were: socio-demographic data, level of oral health knowledge, oral hygienehabits and carbohydrate consumption, gingival status, oral hygiene, teeth status, and access to dental care.the data were collected by means of structured self-administered surveys and the medical records of each patient, and they were analyzed with the statistical software SPSS® 15.0 and epidat® 3.1. Results: although a good level of oral health knowledge is predominant, it is not reflected in oral hygiene habits or in the frequency in which individuals seek preventive dental care. The clinical examination revealed poor oral hygiene habits,high prevalence of mild gingivitis and high prevalence of dental caries as well as filled and missing teeth as a result of it. Conclusions: it is necessary to search for strategies to optimize health education and to improve preventive behaviors within the study population.

Prevención de la enfermedad oral en familias desplazadas por la violencia de la comunidad de Nelson Mandela Cartagena- Colombia / Prevention of oral disease in a community, displaced by violence in Cartagena- Colombia

Introducción y Objetivo: Las intervenciones con programas de promoción de la salud y prevención de la enfermedad oral han sido utilizadas en las comunidades vulnerables con el fin de evitar tratamientos de operatoria dental. El propósito de este estudio fue analizar los conocimientos, manejo y aplicación de los conceptos de salud y enfermedad oral, en familias desplazadas por la violencia. Materiales y Métodos: Un enfoque metodológico cualitativo, apoyado en el método de investigación acción participativa, fue utilizado en 15 familias desplazadas por la violencia con niños escolarizados. Para la recolección de la información se utilizaron los talleres, la entrevista individual estructurada, la entrevista a grupos focales y la observación. Resultados: Los pobladores lograron construir un nuevo conocimiento en el cual se estableció la salud como un proceso constituido por diferentes componentes (bienestar físico, mental y social). De igual manera, el método de enseñanza (IAP) permitió a los pobladores ser parte activa de la solución de sus problemas y dificultades, modificando conceptos vagos de salud y enfermedad y convirtiéndolos en personas inquietas en la búsqueda de situaciones que mejoren su calidad de vida, autoestima, motivación y sentido de pertenencia en la comunidad. Conclusiones: Es fundamental la interacción directa con la comunidad, donde se pueda conocer a fondo todos sus aspectos sociales y tomar este análisis como punto de partida para diseñar estrategias que permitan la intervención directa de la comunidad y mejorar su calidad de vida.

Introduction and Objective: The interventions with health promotion and prevention programs had been used in vulnerable communities, in order to reduce operative dentistry. The aim of the present study was to analyze the knowledge and application of health and illness concepts, in families displaced by violence. Materials and Methods: This project is based on a qualitative methodological focus, supported in the participatory action investigation method, including constructive and hermeneutical tools. 15 lower-income families displaced by violence and whose children were scholarized, were selected. Data collection was done through educational workshops, individual structured interviews, focus groups and observation of people responsible for the care of the children. Categories analyzed included Health and general illness, health and oral illness, prevention, knowledge on treatment of oral illnesses, oral health habits and social practices. Results: The settlers managed to build a new knowledge in which health was established as a process constituted by different components such as social, mental, and physical welll-being. Similarly, this technique of teaching (IAP) allowed settlers to participate actively in the solution of their problems and difficulties, modifying vague concepts of health and illness and becoming involved in looking for solutions that improve their quality of life, self-esteem, motivation and sense of belonging to the community. Conclusions: It is fundamental to have a direct interaction with the community, in order to know all its social aspects in depth. This analysis will serve as a starting point in order to design educational strategies that will permit direct intervention of the community and improve their quality of life.