title: Tooth brushing, tongue cleaning and snacking behaviour of dental technology and therapist students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the tooth brushing, tongue cleaning and snacking behaviour of dental technology and therapist students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study of students of Federal School of Dental Therapy and Technology Enugu, Nigeria. Self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on demography, frequency, duration and technique of tooth brushing and tongue cleaning as well as information on consumption of snacks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 242 students responded. Dental technology students made up 52.5% of the respondents and dental therapist in training made up 47.5%. Majority (63.2%) of the respondents considered the strength of tooth brush when purchasing a tooth brush and 78.9% use tooth brushes with medium strength. Seven-tenth (71.9%) of the respondents brush their teeth twice daily and 52.1% brush for 3-5 minutes. About one-third (30.2%) brush their teeth in front of a mirror. Chewing stick was used by 51.7% of respondents in addition to the use of tooth brush. Tongue cleaning was done by 94.2% with only 9.5% using a tongue cleaner. Only 20.2% reported regular snacks consumption. Nine-tenth (90.4%) of respondents were previously involved in educating others, apart from their colleagues, on tooth brushing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey revealed that most of the dental therapy and technology students had satisfactory tooth-brushing behaviour. The zeal to educate others about proper tooth brushing revealed in this study suggests that the students may be helpful in oral health promotion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Clement C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Azodo
authors.forename: Adebola O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ehizele
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Umoh
authors.forename: Patrick I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Ojehanon
authors.forename: Osagie
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akhionbare
authors.forename: Robinson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Okechukwu
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Igbinosa