Oral hygiene practices, dental service use and oral health self-perception of schoolchildren from a rural zone in the Brazilian Northeast region

• Autor(a) principal: Menezes, Valdenice Aparecida de
• Data de Publicação: 2010
• Outros Autores: Lorena, Rachel Pollyana Falcão, Rocha, Liliane Cristina Barbosa, Leite, Angéllica Falcão, Ferreira, Jainara Maria Soares, Granville-Garcia, Ana Flavia
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista odonto ciência (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://revistaseletronicas.pucrs.br/ojs/index.php/fo/article/view/4626
• topic: Oral health; oral hygiene; schoolchildren; rural population; saúde bucal. epidemiologia

Purpose: To evaluate the oral hygiene practices, use of dental services and self-perception of oral health of school children from the rural areas of the city of Caruaru, PE, in the Northeast region of Brazil. Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional study was carried out using interviews with structured questionnaires aimed at students aged between 6 and 12 years (n=150). Demographic and socio-economic data on oral hygiene practices, the use of dental services and self-perception of oral health were collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests). Results: Most of the students cleaned their teeth (82.0%) with toothpaste (98.0%), a toothbrush available at the market (93.2%) and dental floss (26.4%). All students (150) had a toothbrush, the majority (86.7%) for individual use, and performed three or more daily brushings (56.4%). A significant portion had visited the dentist (72.7%) due to the need for treatment (57.8%) and toothache (33.0%). Among those who had never been to the dentist, fear (36.6%) was the main reason. The majority (56.0%) considered their teeth to be in good condition. Conclusion: Despite the low socio-economic status of the evaluated population, changes in oral hygiene practices and the demand for dental care were observed.