EFFECTS OF ORAL HYGIENE PRACTICES ON ORAL HYGIENE STATUS AMONG ADULT INHABITANTS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN IDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF OYO STATE,NIGERIA

Abstract

The effects of oral hygiene practices on oral hygiene status among adult rural community dwellers in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria were investigated in this cross sectional study. Material and methods: A representative sample of two hundred and fifty participants (143 males and 107 females) between the ages of 18 and 67 years with mean age of 41.60 ± 13.43 ears, were selected among adults from 5 rural communities in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State.Data were collected through clinical examinations and the use of interviewer - administered questionnaire. Frequencies and percentages of relevant variables were reported. Chi square test was used to test association between categorical variables at 5% level of significance. Results: One hundred and thirty nine participants (55.6% had fair practices, 108 (43.2%) had poor practices and only 3(1.2% had good practices. The results demonstrated a low prevalence (19.6%) of twice daily tooth cleaning frequency, 16% cleaning period practice and 20.8% cleaning duration. Only 22% of the study participants use medium tooth brush texture, 26% changes their toothbrush every three months, (30%) use vertical stroke tooth brushing technique, (4.4%) use dental floss, (4.4%) use mouth wash and (8.8%) visit the dental clinic regularly. There is a strong statistically significant association between the choice of cleaning aids and age ( p<0.05). All (1000/o) participants within the age groups 18 -24 years used toothbrush and toothpaste as compared to only 15.2% among the age groups 55 -64 years. Poor oral hygiene was recorded among 54.8% of participants, 31.2% had fair oral hygiene while only 14% of the study participants had good oral hygiene. Poor oral hygiene was also depends on the level of education, however, the widowed (92.3%) were shown to present with the poorest oral hygiene. Likewise, oral hygiene practices were strongly significantly associated with age, gender, marital status, level of education and occupation (p< 0.05). The results also showed that subjects (78.7%) with poor oral hygiene practices have the poorest oral hygiene. There was a strong relationship between cleaning aids and oral hygiene status. All (100%) participants who used toothbrush and toothpaste had good oral hygiene as compared to 54% of chewing stick users who had poor oral hygiene. The level of oral hygiene status was shown to increase with increase in the level of good oral hygiene practicesThere was an increase in poor oral hygiene with increase age, males ( 68.5%) have poorer oral :ygiene than the females (36.4%), and the poorest oral hygiene were found among the farmers (80.9%). Conclusion / Recommendation: This study highlights the poor oral hygiene status of the majority of adult's inhabitants of rural communities in Ido local Government. It also expresses the relationship between poor oral hygiene practices and poor oral hygiene status. Also, it expresses the influence of age, marital status, educational status and occupation on the two. It is recommended that more community oriented oral health promotion programmes, emphasizing the practice of good oral hygiene should be conducted in this local government area to improve oral health of the inhabitants