KARACHI: In a recent study published in the Journal of Dentistry and Oral Hygiene, authored by Dr Anjum Younus and Dr Ambrina Qureshi reveals that there may be two major factors that can contribute towards the improvement of oral hygiene in Pakistani individuals. The study was conducted in Karachi.
The two key aspects that this study focused on are: Frequency of toothbrush change and proper toothbrushing technique.
This cross-sectional study was conducted using a consecutive sampling technique, on the population of Pakistan’s largest metropolitan city, Karachi. The relevant data for this study was extracted through a pre-designed questionnaire consisting of close ended questions, amongst the patients at attended the outpatient department at Dr Ishrat ul Ibaad Khan Institute of Oral Sciences Karachi.
The data collected amongst the participants revealed that a majority (65%) of the participants changed their toothbrushes within 3 months. The odds of those participants (who brushed twice a day) to change their toothbrushes within three months was far more than those that brushed once a day.
Regarding duration of tooth brushing, majority participants said that they brushed their teeth for 2 min (62.5%) and most of them changed their toothbrush at an interval of every 3 months (65.5%). Flossing and cleaning of tongue/palate were also in practice of a majority of the participants.
The study successfully concluded that while socio economic factors can influence that mouth cleaning aid used, or the duration of change of the oral cleaning aids such as toothbrushes. A majority of the participants were in line with recommended oral advice and changed their toothbrushes regularly within a three-month period. However, oral health inequalities do exist amongst different socio-economic categories and further studies need to be conducted in order to eliminate these anomalies.
