Assessment of Oral Health Behavior and Oral Health Status among 6–16-year-old Tribal School Children at Jawadhu and Sitheri Hills, Tamil Nadu - A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Aim: Oral health is a significant part of the overall health of the body, well-being, and quality of life, and it is an essential part of general health. This study assesses the oral health behavior and oral health status among 6–16-year-old tribal school children at Jawadhu and Sitheri Hills, Tamil Nadu. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 520 tribal school children aged 6–16 years in the Jawadhu and Sitheri Hills, Tamil Nadu. Demographic data along with oral health behavior of the participants was collected and oral examination of the participants was done for the oral health status. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 20. Results: Out of 520 participants, 72.3% were males and 27.7% were females. About 71.92% used toothbrushes and toothpaste and 28.07% of participants used twigs for cleaning their teeth. All the participants only visit the dentist when dental problems arise. None of the participants knew that sugar affects the oral health of a person. About 55.8% of the participants had dental caries and only 3.5% of the participants had fluorosis present in their teeth. Conclusion: The oral health behavior of the study population is better than the other tribal communities. However, students lack awareness about oral health, dental caries, lack of dental care facilities, and limited access to oral health services. Hence, it is recommended to concentrate on improving the oral health status and treatment needs of these tribal students.