# Oral Health Practices of Dental Professionals Towards Self-Oral Care: A Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study examines how dental professionals in India care for their own oral health, focusing on their brushing techniques and awareness of toothbrushing force.

## Contribution

The study uniquely focuses on dental professionals' awareness and implementation of toothbrushing force.

## Key findings

- Most participants used soft-bristle toothbrushes and fluoridated toothpaste.
- Over 75% used the modified Bass brushing technique.
- Many were unaware of how to assess and apply correct brushing force.

## Abstract

Background: Dentists are considered positive role models and play a vital part in imparting effective oral health knowledge to patients and communities. Hence, a study was conducted to assess the attitude and practices of dental professionals towards self-oral care and their knowledge of toothbrushing force, which is widely not discussed.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 309 dental professionals, including undergraduates, interns, postgraduates, senior residents, faculty, and private practitioners in Lucknow, India, from January 2024 to June 2024 using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 28 years, with more females (195; 63.11%) than males (114; 36.89%). A total of 240 (77.67%) participants used soft-bristle toothbrushes, and 233 (75.40%) used fluoridated toothpaste. The most common brushing technique was the modified bass technique (234; 75.73%). More than half of the participants always considered and applied the correct force during brushing from their point of view, while the rest did not consider it. About three-fourths were unaware of assessing and implementing brushing force, while the remaining 81 participants provided various responses, including subjective self-evaluation, flaring of bristles due to excessive pressure, injury to gum/enamel/teeth, and using sensing devices. Female participants were better than their male counterparts in terms of following a few oral hygiene practices regularly, in terms of using fluoridated toothpaste, and in the context of skipping toothbrushing in the morning and tobacco practices.

Conclusion: The study provided valuable insights for dental professionals regarding their attitudes and practices towards oral hygiene. The unique part of the study was that it focused on getting details on assessing and implementing the toothbrush force.