Dental Problems and Oral Hygiene Practices among Dental Unit Outpatients

Oral health is a significant determinant of overall health and leads to a higher quality of life. Oral diseases are an important health concern across the globe, and oral health problems growing more prevalent in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was directed to evaluate common dental problems and oral hygiene practices among 300 patients attending the outpatient department of the dental unit at Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital in Kishoreganj and Sadar Hospital in Sunamganj from January 2022 to June 2022. The most commonly observed oral conditions were gingivitis (41.0%) and dental caries (27.0%). Most of individuals (65.4%) used a toothbrush to clean their teeth, with 18.4% brushing twice every day. Total 45.9% of those who used a toothbrush changed it every 3 months, whereas 30.6% replaced it every 6 months. Only a small number of participants cleaned their tongues (14.7%). Regarding dental visits, one-fifth of the participants (21.3%) went to the dentist for regular check-ups. Only 6.7% of participants had biannual visits and 14.7% attended annually; conversely, a significant majority (78.6%) sought dental care only when problems arose. Most participants used local branded toothpaste (32.0%). Over half of individuals (54.7%) had poor oral hygiene, while 17.0% had good oral hygiene. This study provided an overview of common dental problems, health behaviors and poor dental hygiene practices within the studied population. It is essential to implement comprehensive awareness programs at both educational institutions and the community level to enhance oral health status.