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ORIGINAL ARTICLES
 
The knowledge and practices of oral hygiene methods and attendance pattern among school teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
 
  Khalid  Almas,  Thamir M. Al-Malik,  Mohammed A. Al-Shehri,  Nils  Skaug
 
ABSTRACT
 

Objectives: The aim of this study was to find out the knowledge and practices of oral hygiene methods among primary and secondary school teachers in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
 
Methods: The study was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire. Four hundred and seventy teachers, male 236 (50.2%) and female 234 (48.8%) responded with a response rate of 85.5%. The study was conducted during October to December 2001 at primary and secondary schools in Riyadh City, KSA.
 
Results: Almost 86% of male and 90% of female teachers felt that dental caries is due to the wrong method of tooth brushing, while sugar and sugary drinks were considered the main factor by 90% of male and 98% of female teachers. Seventy-five percent of male and 72% of female teachers considered irregular tooth brushing a cause of gums disease with 32% of male and 39% of female teachers not knowing details with regards to microbial relationship of gum disease. Tooth brushing preference was common among 45% male and 49% female teachers due to perceived effect of better cleaning, while almost an equal percentage of male and females (62%) used miswak due to Sunnah. Thirty-three point five percent of female teachers brushed 3 times a day as compared to 19% male teachers. On daily basis brushing 3 times, a day was common among >5000 SR monthly income group. Male teachers preferred horizontal tooth brushing (40%) while female teachers preferred circular tooth brushing (45%). Miswak was more commonly used by male teachers as compared to female teachers. Female school teachers had a higher income as compared to male schoolteachers. Thirty-two percent of females and 28% of male teachers were regular attendees to the dentist. Males were more satisfied by their oral health as compared to female teachers and 56% of male and 63% of female teachers visited the dentist only on having pain (toothache).
 
Conclusions: It is concluded that there is much resemblance in knowledge and practice of oral hygiene habits among male and female schoolteachers and there is a need to enhance their knowledge regarding oral health and disease. Both need more awareness regarding oral health promotion to have a positive role in school oral health education for their students in collaboration with oral health care workers.

 
 
Saudi Medical Journal 2003; Vol. 24 (10): 1087-1091
 
 

School teachers can play a major role in oral health education programs at school levels. Schools have a tremendous capacity to be supportive of programs involving preventive health and preventive dentistry for children.1 It was found that teachers traditionally have educated children regarding oral health and often participated in school based prevention program.2 They are deliverers of dental health education and have many advantages over the dental profession.3 Firstly, they are able to instruct all children rather than only those seeking dental care. Secondly, they have daily influence on children at a time when the children are developing their value system,4 thirdly the close relationship built in classrooms allows teachers to individualize information to suit each child,5 and finally, teachers are more skilled in educational psychology than dentists.6 It has been reported that the college teachers were often deficient in oral health information, inadequate and even incorrect information’s was delivered.7,8 In a study of teacher’s knowledge of preventive dentistry, it was concluded that elementary school teachers were ill-informed regarding the details of preventive dentistry.9

In a recent study from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA),10 it has been reported that out of 120 school teachers, 73% knew regarding the role of sugar plus bacteria in the development of dental caries, bleeding gums were related to improper tooth cleaning by 68%; and 76% considered tooth brushing can prevent dental caries. Moreover, 56% responded positively to the statement that school teachers should teach the children regarding the causes of dental disease. In another study by Khan et al11 from Riyadh City, KSA, it was found that 34% of teachers had good oral hygiene, while 50.2% fair and 15.8% were poor. Regarding their knowledge, 65% of schoolteachers had a knowledge regarding tooth decay while 45% of schoolteachers were aware of gum diseases. Another study from Riyadh,12 concluded that there is a deficiency in dental and general health knowledge among female teachers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and practices of oral hygiene methods and attendance pattern to dentists among primary and secondary school teachers and to investigate the effect of economic status on their oral hygiene practice and level of satisfaction.

Methods. A convenience sample of four hundred and seventy male and female primary and secondary school teachers were included in the study. Riyadh was divided into 4 regions for selection of schools. Teachers were approached from 7 male and 9 female schools for a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 14 different questions covering the knowledge of tooth decay, gingival disease, oral hygiene methods, frequency of tooth brushing and miswak (chewing stick) use, visit to dentists, income and level of satisfaction from oral health. The questionnaire was tested before embarking on the study. The schools administration had been informed before the visit to schools and permission was obtained.

The data were entered into a computer using FoxPro Program. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was utilized for data analysis. The data were generated for frequency distributions and Chi-square test for comparisons. The p-value was set at 0.05 for significance level. The missing data were excluded from the analysis.

Results. Four hundred and seventy teachers, 236 (50.2%) male and 234 (48.8%) female schoolteachers responded with a response rate of 85% (470/550). Regarding knowledge of teachers, the cause of dental caries, 86% of male and 90% of female teachers respo

 
From the Department of Preventive Dental Sciences (Almas), King Saud University, College of Dentistry, USC Program (Al-Malik, Al-Shehri), Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Faculty of Dentistry (Skaug), University of Bergen, Norway.

Received 10th March 2003. Accepted for publication in final form 5th July 2003.

Address correspondence and reprint request to: Ass. Prof. Khalid Almas, Department of Periodontics, New York University, College of Dentistry, 345 East 24th Street, New York, NY 10010-4086, United States of America. Tel. +1 (973) 5731713. Fax. +1 (201) 4356022. E-mail: khalidalmas@yahoo.com

 

Acknowledgment. All the teachers are thanked for their participation in the study. Dr. Nazeer Khan is thanked for his help in data analysis. The study was registered with College of Dentistry Research Center (CDRC) No. NF 1800.

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