Oral hygiene practice and awareness among elderly patients attending a dental college, Chennai

Abstract Background: This study deals with the concepts associated with knowledge and awareness of elderly people towards oral health, investigate the barriers that lead to poor oral health and the consequences resulting from neglected oral health of the elderly people. Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of elderly patients towards oral health and dental care as well as to evaluate the factors that determine these variables. Materials and methods: 100 elderly patients were randomly selected in a dental college, Chennai. All subjects were requested to complete a comprehensive questionnaire. The data were entered and managed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 17. Descriptive analysis of the data including frequencies, percentages and means of patient's oral health knowledge and oral hygiene practices. Results: A total of 100 patients were interviewed through a structured questionnaire regarding their oral health knowledge and oral hygiene practices. Results obtained from this questionnaire are, 92% of them brushes once a day whereas 8% of has the habit of brushing at least twice daily. 100% people who undertaken this study brushes their teeth in the morning. When the question was about the oral hygiene method they follow 85% answered they use only tooth brush,10% used mouthwash along with tooth brush and 5% used toothpicks along with toothbrush. Conclusion: From this study it is concluded that elderly patients followed regular tooth brushing practice. They were not aware of correct oral hygiene practices and treatment protocol. The dentists are hence in an ideal position to contribute to the well-being of the elderly population. Dentists should be alert to dental risk factors in the elderly population and by careful screening can intervene in the early stages of dental problems when such interventions can be most valuable and effective.