Muhammad Jamal Anwar, Syed Mumtaz Ali, Mohammad Ali Leghari, Jawaria Tariq.
Oral hygiene knowledge and source of information among 12 to 16 years’ old Karachi school children.
Pak Oral Dental J Jan ;35(2):258-61.

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of school children about dental diseases, oral hygiene practices, dietary habits and pattern of visit to dental clinic and also to identify the source of information regarding dental health. This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2012 to June 2012, among students aged between 12 to 16 years studying in schools. Results of the study showed that 100% students believed that caries had negative effect on their dental health and sweets were the most common cause of dental caries. About the question of caries affecting dental health, 76 (25%) acquired knowledge from their dentists while 114 (37.75%) learned from school teacher and rest 113 (37.25%) gained their knowledge from parents∕ guardians. Moreover, regarding the source of information of soft drink as a hazard to oral health 76 (25%) got the knowledge from their dentists while 110 (36%) of students thought that soft drinks did not affect their dental health and 117 (39%) students said that they had not known the negative effect of soft drinks on their dental health. In the study, 56% responded that caries prompt them to visit dentist whereas only 10.7% visited dentist when they had bleeding gums. School teachers, parents and dentists were the main source of oral health information. The results of the present study showed that majority of the children obtained oral health information from their school teachers. Schools may provide effective settings for oral health screening and oral health educational programs.

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