EFFECTIVENESS OF SUPERVISED TOOTH BRUSHING EXERCISE ON THE ORAL HYGIENE STATUS OF SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN IN PESHAWAR

Samrina Nasir; Rubab Jawed; Zeeshan Kibria; Shazia Makhdoom; Aiman Khan; Momina Saleem

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v71i3.4374

Authors

Samrina Nasir Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar Pakistan
Rubab Jawed Baqai Dental College, Karachi Pakistan
Zeeshan Kibria Khyber Medical University, Peshawar Pakistan
Shazia Makhdoom Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar Pakistan
Aiman Khan Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar Pakistan
Momina Saleem Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v71i3.4374

Keywords:

Dental caries, Decayed missing filled teeth, Oral hygiene, Plaque index, Supervised tooth brushing, School children, Tooth brushing

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of supervised tooth brushing exercise on the oral hygiene status of school going children in Peshawar.

Study Design: Prospective observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at a girl’s government school in university town, Peshawar, from Jul to Dec 2018.

Methodology: All girls between age 7-10 years with mixed dentition, minimum plaque index score 2 and gingival index score 0 were included in the study. Sixty four girls were allocated into group A (intervention) and group B (control) using computer generated random numbers. Intervention group (32 subjects) was exposed to video plus supervised tooth brushing on a cast model while control group (32 subjects) only exposed to video on brushing technique. The plaque index score was recorded for oral hygiene status as outcome measure of intervention after one month.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 9.53 ± 1.08 years. There was statistically significant difference in the plaque scores of interventional and control group after one month (0.3125 ± 0.470 vs. 1.312 ± 0.644, p<0.001) as compared to baseline data (1.90 ± 0.296 vs. 2.0 ± 0.00, p=0.83). The difference for frequency of tooth brushing between the two groups was not statistically significant (p=0.088). Parental watch during tooth brushing between the two groups was statistically insignificant (p=0.055).

Conclusion: Supervised tooth brushing improved the oral hygiene status of the children therefore oral health education was effective in establishing good oral health among school children.