Table 2. Oral health practices and status (mean ± SD/n [%]) of study participants at baseline.

Parameters	Intervention group n = 39	Control group n = 39	Total n = 78	p -Value
Abbreviations: NA, not available; SD, standard deviation. a Student’s t -test. b Chi-squared test.
Calculus
Mild	17 (21.8%)	16 (20.5%)	33 (42.3%)
Moderate	5 (12.8%)	13 (16.7%)	18 (23.1%)	0.141 b
Severe	6 (7.7%)	4 (5.1%)	10 (12.8%)
No	11 (14.1%)	6 (7.7%)	17 (21.8%)
Gingivitis
Mild	9 (11.5%)	15 (19.2%)	24 (30.8%)
Moderate	5 (6.4%)	5 (6.4%)	10 (12.8%)	0.275 b
Severe	2 (2.6%)	0 (0%)	2 (2.7%)
No	23 (29.5%)	19 (24.4%)	42 (53.8%)
Periodontitis
Mild	14 (17.9%)	15 (19.2%)	29 (37.2%)
Moderate	10 (12.8%)	12 (15.4%)	22 (28.2%)	0.749 b
Severe	4 (5.1%)	5 (6.4%)	9 (11.5%)
No	11 (14.1%)	7 (9.0%)	18 (23.1%)
Oral lesions
No	39(50.0%)	39 (50.0%)	78 (100%)	NA
Missing teeth
Mean ± SD	0.36 ± 0.81	0.77 ± 1.20	0.56 ± 1.03	0.081 a
Yes	8 (10.3%)	16 (20.5%)	24 (30.8%)	0.085 b
No	31 (39.7%)	23 (29.5%)	54 (69.2%)
Dental caries
Mean ± SD	1.23 ± 1.56	0.97 ± 1.56	1.10 ± 1.55	0.471 a
Yes	22 (28.2%)	15 (19.2%)	37(47.4%)	0.173 b
No	17 (21.8%)	24 (30.8%)	41 (52.6%)
How clean teeth
Toothbrush	31 (39.7%)	24 (30.8%)	55 (70.5%)	0.199 b
Miswak and others (manjan)	8 (10.3%)	15 (19.2%)	23 (29.5%)
Brushing time
Once/day	30 (38.5%)	36 (46.2%)	66 (84.6%)	0.114 b
Twice/day	9 (11.5%)	3 (3.8%)	12 (15.4%)
Use toothpaste
Yes	27 (34.6%)	20 (25.6%)	47 (60.3%)	0.165 b
Cigarettes/day
Mean ± SD	13.51 ± 5.61	15.90 ± 6.13	14.71 ± 5.96	0.077 a
≤10	25 (32.1%)	16 (20.5%)	41 (52.6%)
11–20	12 (15.4%)	20 (25.6%)	32 (41.0%)	0.124 b
≥21	2 (2.6%)	3 (3.8%)	5 (6.4%)
Smoking years
Mean ± SD	8.79 ± 5.56	9.54 ± 4.78	9.17 ± 5.16	0.529 a
≤5	19 (24.4%)	10 (12.8%)	29 (37.2%)	0.091 b
6–10	10 (12.8%)	17 (21.8%)	27 (34.6%)
˃10	10 (12.8%)	12 (15.4%)	22 (28.2%)