title: Prevalence of dental myths, oral hygiene methods and tobacco habits in an ageing North Indian rural population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Though increased emphasis is being given to expanding dental care facilities and awareness in Indian villages, the target population is unfortunately less literate and financially-equipped compared to their urban counterparts. This study attempted to evaluate dental myths, oral hygiene methods and beliefs, and tobacco habits present in a rural ageing population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study area consisted of a group of 10 villages, situated in the district of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The sample comprised 681 people aged 50 years or above. The subjects were questioned about dental myths, tobacco habits and oral hygiene methods and then divided into groups on the basis of age, gender, and educational status. Mean values, standard deviation, chi-square test, t-test and p values were used to obtain inter-group comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty percent of the subjects considered oral hygiene unnecessary, with 61% relying on simple mouth rinsing for maintaining oral hygiene, 48% either smoked and chewed tobacco or both and 81% had one or more dental myth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that the rural ageing population is deprived and a targeted programme to spread scientific dental practices to them is necessary.
authors: Prosthodontics Department, Dental Faculty, CSM Medical University, Lucknow, UP, India. saumyendravsingh@rediffmail.com
authors: Saumyendra V
authors: SV
authors: Singh
authors: Arvind
authors: A
authors: Tripathi
authors: Zafar
authors: Z
authors: Akbar
authors: Suresh
authors: S
authors: Chandra
authors: Anurag
authors: A
authors: Tripathi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods*; D012423:Rural Health; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000523:psychology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000379:methods; D062789:Tobacco Products
chemical_list: D009067:Mouthwashes