Prevalence of dental myths, oral hygiene methods and tobacco habits in an ageing North Indian rural population.
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.
Singh
Saumyendra V
SV
Prosthodontics Department, Dental Faculty, CSM Medical University, Lucknow, UP, India. saumyendravsingh@rediffmail.com
Tripathi
Arvind
A
Akbar
Zafar
Z
Chandra
Suresh
S
Tripathi
Anurag
A
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
D009067:Mouthwashes