Oral Health and Tools for Oral Hygiene in Adolescents in Detema Secondary School

Sammanfattning: Abstract The aim of this epidemiologic pilot field study was to determine if the oral health problem in Detema was periodontal or caries disease. If periodontal disease, was it induced by a certain virulent microflora or by inadequate oral hygiene? A second specific aim was to educate local oral health instructors, to raise the awareness of the importance of oral health, and in that way improve the general health. Methods were that with the use of WHO oral health questionnaire, interview 117 participants in index ages 15-19 years, inform about oral diseases, instruct techniques for optimized oral cleansing, assess dental status and periodontal health on index teeth. Local oral health instructors were educated for maintaining the knowledge and to reinstruct the toothbrush and toothpaste methods. Susceptibility to caries and periodontal disease in relation to ethnicity was investigated. The prevalence of caries disease was 32% a decrease compared to 44% in 1995. The prevalence of periodontal disease was 82%, attachment loss and gingival retractions 8% each, and gingival retractions 6%. This result was an impairment compared to 73% in 1995, when there were no pockets, retractions or any attachment loss in this index age. Results could not significantly show association between oral disease and lack of, or infrequent use of cleansing devices and fluoridated toothpaste, neither to a diet with high and frequent carbohydrate intake. There was indication of susceptibility to periodontal disease in the population.  The conclusion was that the non-optimized technique for oral hygiene affected this population´s oral health.