PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Almas, Khalid
AU  - Al-Malik, Thamir M.
AU  - Al-Shehri, Mohammed A.
AU  - Skaug, Nils
TI  - The knowledge and practices of oral hygiene methods and attendance pattern among school teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
DP  - 2003 Oct 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1087--1091
VI  - 24
IP  - 10
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/24/10/1087.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/24/10/1087.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2003 Oct 01; 24
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to find out the knowledge and practices of oral hygiene methods among primary and secondary school teachers in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).METHODS: The study was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire. Four hundred and seventy teachers, male 236 (50.2%) and female 234 (48.8%) responded with a response rate of 85.5%. The study was conducted during October to December 2001 at primary and secondary schools in Riyadh City, KSA.RESULTS: Almost 86% of male and 90% of female teachers felt that dental caries is due to the wrong method of tooth brushing, while sugar and sugary drinks were considered the main factor by 90% of male and 98% of female teachers. Seventy-five percent of male and 72% of female teachers considered irregular tooth brushing a cause of gums disease with 32% of male and 39% of female teachers not knowing details with regards to microbial relationship of gum disease. Tooth brushing preference was common among 45% male and 49% female teachers due to perceived effect of better cleaning, while almost an equal percentage of male and females (62%) used miswak due to Sunnah. Thirty-three point five percent of female teachers brushed 3 times a day as compared to 19% male teachers. On daily basis brushing 3 times, a day was common among >5000 SR monthly income group. Male teachers preferred horizontal tooth brushing (40%) while female teachers preferred circular tooth brushing (45%). Miswak was more commonly used by male teachers as compared to female teachers. Female school teachers had a higher income as compared to male schoolteachers. Thirty-two percent of females and 28% of male teachers were regular attendees to the dentist. Males were more satisfied by their oral health as compared to female teachers and 56% of male and 63% of female teachers visited the dentist only on having pain (toothache).CONCLUSION: It is concluded that there is much resemblance in knowledge and practice of oral hygiene habits among male and female schoolteachers and there is a need to enhance their knowledge regarding oral health and disease. Both need more awareness regarding oral health promotion to have a positive role in school oral health education for their students in collaboration with oral health care workers.