Oral Health Behavior and Tobacco Usage of Coal Mine Workers in Tamil Nadu

Health behavior is widely influenced by behavior, attitudes, and knowledge, which impacts oral health. Mostly, individuals with poor oral hygiene have been found to be consuming more sugar.

The present study aims to assess the behavioral practices and tobacco usage of coal mine workers in Tamil Nadu towards oral health.

A simple random sampling technique was employed to recruit 309 Mine I workers and 294 Mine II workers. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data pertaining to oral health-related behavior and oral hygiene practices.

Cigarette and bidi smoking were found in most of the workers. In both Mine I and Mine II, the majority of the subjects used tooth brushes and toothpaste for cleaning their teeth (78.6% and 76.5%, respectively). In Mine I, 58 (18.8%) subjects used finger and tooth powder for cleaning their teeth, while 6 (2%) used finger and toothpaste, and two tooth brush and powder. In Mine II, it was 52 (17.7%), 7 (2.4%), and 10 (3.4%), respectively.

89.7% of Mine I workers had cleaned their teeth once daily. In Mine I, the subjects who used finger and tooth powder for cleaning their teeth were 18.8%, those using finger and toothpaste were 2%, and tooth brushes and powder were 0.6%.