ORAL HEALTH BEHAVIOURS AND ASSOCIATED LIFESTYLE BEHAVIOURS AMONG ADULTS IN HYDERABAD - AN ONLINE SURVEY

BACKGROUND : Oral hygiene is a major public health concern owing to their higher prevalence and their effects on the individual's quality of life. Poor oral hygiene can lead to serious diseases, like periodontitis, tooth decay, pain and discomfort in teeth or gums, infection and loss of teeth. AIM : The aim of this study is to assess the oral hygiene behaviour and associated lifestyle behaviours among adults in Hyderabad. MATERIALS AND METHOD : This cross-sectional study was conducted among adults in Hyderabad. The questionnaire was circulated through google forms among the adults in Hyderabad and a total of 116 completely filled forms were included for the study. The collected responses were entered and the output was generated through the SPSS software. Chi Square test was used to analyse the association between variables. RESULTS : 98.3% participants used toothpaste to clean their teeth. 38.8% participants never visited the dentist. Routine dental check up was common in the age group of 35- 50 yrs when compared with other age groups. 90 % of them reported that they never smoked and 80% reported that they never had alcohol. About 22% of the study participants in the age group of 18-35 yrsself assessed their teeth and gums as excellent. None of the female study participants assessed their teeth as poor when compared with males and this was found to be statistically significant. (p value - 0.025). CONCLUSION : Majority of the study participants followed good oral hygiene practices and also reported not to have adverse lifestyle practices.