Effectiveness of Health Education on Dietary Habits and Oral Hygiene Practices: An Interventional Study

TL;DR

This study shows that health education improves patients' oral hygiene practices and understanding of how diet affects oral health.

Contribution

Demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted education in improving oral hygiene and dietary knowledge among outpatients.

Findings

Post-intervention, 92% brushed twice daily, up from 73% pre-intervention.

Awareness of diet's role in oral health rose from 57% to 92% after education.

Abstract

Background: Dietary habits significantly influence oral health, yet patient awareness of this relationship remains inadequate. This study aimed to assess and improve knowledge and practices regarding the influence of diet on oral health among outpatients.

Methods: A pre-post-test interventional study was conducted among 100 patients (53 males, 47 females). Data on demographic characteristics, oral hygiene practices, and knowledge/attitudes toward diet-related oral health were collected using a structured questionnaire. An educational intervention was administered, followed by a post-test after a defined period. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used to analyze changes.

Results: Pre-intervention, 73% brushed twice daily or more, 65% used fluoridated toothpaste, and 57% recognized the role of diet in oral health. Awareness of specific dietary recommendations, such as the benefits of high-fiber foods over fruit juice (26%) and risks of frequent snacking (42%), was low. Post-intervention, significant improvements were observed in oral hygiene practices (mean score: 4.12 ± 1.60 to 8.86 ± 1.40, p-value < 0.001) and dietary knowledge/attitudes (mean score: 4.03 ± 2.52 to 9.56 ± 1.23, p-value < 0.001). Brushing twice daily increased to 92%, optimal toothpaste use to 97%, and awareness of the role of diet in oral health to 92%. Recognition of the benefits of high-fiber foods rose to 98%, and awareness of sugar sources increased to 93%.

Conclusion: The intervention significantly enhanced both oral hygiene practices and knowledge regarding the influence of diet on oral health. These findings highlight the value of targeted patient education in improving preventive oral health behaviors.