Assessment of oral hygiene awareness and practice among patients attending opd at dr. hedgewar smruti rugna seva mandal’s (hsrsm’s) dental college and hospital Hingoli, Maharashtra, India: A cross-sectional study

Background: Oral health is an important factor in maintaining sound psychological and physical health. According to World Oral Health report 2003, the prevalence of periodontitis is 86% in India. Dental care can sometimes be a forgotten part of a healthy life style. Oral health has been neglected for long in India. Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the oral hygiene awareness and practice among the patients attending OPD at HSRSM’s dental college in Hingoli and encourage them about the benefits of a healthy oral cavity. Methodology: A total of 300 patients (150male and 150females) participated in the study through a questionnaire that consisted of closed ended questions. The data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 15 and results were accumulated by percentage distribution. Results: Awareness among patients about oral hygiene was good. 95% patients in our study were brushing the teeth at least daily but with different oral hygiene measures. It was observed that 86.67% patients didn’t know the relationship between oral and general health. Patients only visited the dental clinic during the problem. Conclusion: The need for continuing dental education through promotion programs is emphasized with justification.