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Research ArticleOriginal Article
Open Access

The knowledge and practices of oral hygiene methods and attendance pattern among school teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Khalid Almas, Thamir M. Al-Malik, Mohammed A. Al-Shehri and Nils Skaug
Saudi Medical Journal October 2003, 24 (10) 1087-1091;
Khalid Almas
Department of Periodontics, New York University, College of Dentistry, 345 East 24th Street, New York, NY 10010-4086, United States of America. Tel. +1 (973) 5731713. Fax. +1 (201) 4356022. E-mail: [email protected]
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Thamir M. Al-Malik
USC Program, Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Mohammed A. Al-Shehri
USC Program, Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Nils Skaug
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Bergen, Norway.
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Abstract

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.

  • Copyright: © Saudi Medical Journal

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Saudi Medical Journal: 24 (10)
Saudi Medical Journal
Vol. 24, Issue 10
1 Oct 2003
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The knowledge and practices of oral hygiene methods and attendance pattern among school teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Khalid Almas, Thamir M. Al-Malik, Mohammed A. Al-Shehri, Nils Skaug
Saudi Medical Journal Oct 2003, 24 (10) 1087-1091;

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The knowledge and practices of oral hygiene methods and attendance pattern among school teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Khalid Almas, Thamir M. Al-Malik, Mohammed A. Al-Shehri, Nils Skaug
Saudi Medical Journal Oct 2003, 24 (10) 1087-1091;
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© 2025 Saudi Medical Journal Saudi Medical Journal is copyright under the Berne Convention and the International Copyright Convention.  Saudi Medical Journal is an Open Access journal and articles published are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (CC BY-NC). Readers may copy, distribute, and display the work for non-commercial purposes with the proper citation of the original work. Electronic ISSN 1658-3175. Print ISSN 0379-5284.

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