Table 3.
Oral Health Knowledge Among Study Participants
| Question | Male N (%) (N = 482)a | Female N (%) (N = 695)a | p-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correct | Incorrect | Correct | Incorrect | ||
| Brushing prevents gum problems | 454 (94.2) | 28 (5.8) | 653 (94.0) | 42 (6.0) | 0.87b |
| Flossing prevents gum problems | 277 (57.8) | 202 (42.2) | 496 (71.4) | 199 (28.6) | <0.001b |
| Self-care is not related to oral health | 252 (52.8) | 225 (47.2) | 403 (58.4) | 287 (41.6) | 0.05b |
| Oral hygiene instructions do not improve oral health | 258 (54.3) | 217 (45.7) | 372 (53.7) | 321 (46.3) | 0.83b |
| Gum bleeding while brushing is a sign of early-stage inflammation | 267 (55.7) | 212 (44.3) | 488 (70.2) | 207 (29.8) | <0.001b |
| Gingival and periodontal problems may lead to bone loss | 250 (52.0) | 231 (48.0) | 342 (49.4) | 351 (50.6) | 0.38b |
| Oral disease may cause systemic problems (eg, heart disease) | 151 (31.5) | 329 (68.5) | 252 (36.3) | 442 (63.7) | <0.001b |
| Fluoride has a positive effect on oral health | 247 (51.5) | 233 (48.5) | 382 (55.2) | 310 (44.8) | 0.206b |
| Oral hygiene prevents halitosis | 431 (89.4) | 51 (10.6) | 666 (96.8) | 29 (4.2) | <0.001b |
| Knowledge about calculus | 409 (85.6) | 69 (14.0) | 669 (96.5) | 24 (3.5) | <0.001b |
| Plaque is a hard material | 75 (15.6) | 405 (84.4) | 95 (13.7) | 598 (86.3) | 0.36b |
| Dental calculus can be removed at home by brushing and flossing | 373 (77.4) | 109 (22.6) | 518 (74.6) | 176 (25.4) | 0.28b |
| Total knowledge score mean (SD) | 7.2 (2.1) | 8.1 (1.8) | <0.001c | ||
Notes: aSome numbers do not add to the total sample number because of missing data. bA chi-square test was used. cA two sample t-test was used.