Myths and Misconceptions about Oral Health Practices among Adult Slum Dwellers of South India – A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Context: Myths and misconceptions are departure from facts and are based on certain misapprehensions present in the society. Their association with oral health can be detrimental to the maintenance of oral hygiene and act as a nexus for multiple diseases. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of the most common myths and misconceptions among the adult slum dwellers of Belagavi district. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-designed, validated questionnaire among the adult slum dwellers of the four zones – North, East, West, and South of Belagavi district, Karnataka. A total sample of 400 was considered and they were randomly selected from the slums in the four zones. Most of the questions had dichotomous responses for simplicity and clarity of understanding. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and Spearman’s Correlation analysis were done. Results: There were 218 females and 182 males selected for the study and most of them belonged to the age group of 26–40 years. Almost 79% of people believed that cleaning and scaling could lead to loosening of teeth. Out of all the respondents, 68.3% felt that female dentists would not be able to clean their teeth as finely as male dentists. Chi-square test and Correlation analysis showed a statistically significant association between different variables and the prevalent myths and misconceptions about various oral health practices. Conclusion: The study highlights the presence of certain myths and misconceptions that have a limiting effect on the maintenance of oral health among the adult slum dwellers of the Belagavi district.