Skip to main content
. 2023 Jan 13;15(1):e33759. doi: 10.7759/cureus.33759

Table 4. Association of educational level with items in the questionnaire regarding dental myths.

*: statistically significant

  Educational level Chi-squared value P-value
High school Middle school Primary school University
N % N % N % N %
1. Brushing with stiff bristles makes your teeth whiter. Agree 14 20.60% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 54 79.40% 2.216 0.529
Disagree 84 23.00% 8 2.20% 2 0.50% 271 74.20%
2. Using miswak only is enough, and there is no need for a toothbrush and paste. Agree 25 31.60% 3 3.80% 1 1.30% 50 63.30% 8.591 0.035*
Disagree 73 20.60% 5 1.40% 1 0.30% 275 77.70%
3. When gums bleed, it is better not to brush your teeth. Agree 33 28.40% 2 1.70% 1 0.90% 80 69.00% 3.714 0.294
Disagree 65 20.50% 6 1.90% 1 0.30% 245 77.30%
4. Removal of calculus leads to the loosening of teeth. Agree 29 34.10% 3 3.50% 0 0.00% 53 62.40% 10.546 0.014*
Disagree 69 19.80% 5 1.40% 2 0.60% 272 78.20%
5. Using home stuff such as coal and salt makes your teeth whiter. Agree 17 19.50% 1 1.10% 1 1.10% 68 78.20% 2.001 0.572
Disagree 81 23.40% 7 2.00% 1 0.30% 257 74.30%
6. Candy is the only cause of tooth decay. Agree 23 41.80% 2 3.60% 0 0.00% 30 54.50% 15.16 0.002*
Disagree 75 19.80% 6 1.60% 2 0.50% 295 78.00%
7. Decay is hereditary. Agree 17 21.80% 1 1.30% 1 1.30% 59 75.60% 1.584 0.663
Disagree 81 22.80% 7 2.00% 1 0.30% 266 74.90%
8. For toothache, the best treatment is tooth extraction. Agree 15 33.30% 2 4.40% 0 0.00% 28 62.20% 5.708 0.127
Disagree 83 21.40% 6 1.50% 2 0.50% 297 76.50%
9. If you have pain in a particular tooth, placing a painkiller tablet on it reduces the pain. Agree 41 27.50% 0 0.00% 1 0.70% 107 71.80% 7.126 0.068
Disagree 57 20.10% 8 2.80% 1 0.40% 218 76.80%
10. There is no need to take care of baby teeth because they will fall off anyway. Agree 5 26.30% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 14 73.70% 0.583 0.9
Disagree 93 22.50% 8 1.90% 2 0.50% 311 75.10%
11. Placing of milk bottle inside the mouth of the baby during sleep does not harm teeth. Agree 17 21.20% 1 1.20% 1 1.20% 61 76.20% 1.611 0.657
Disagree 81 22.90% 7 2.00% 1 0.30% 264 74.80%
12. Teething causes fever. Agree 84 24.20% 6 1.70% 0 0.00% 257 74.10% 10.347 0.016*
Disagree 14 16.30% 2 2.30% 2 2.30% 68 79.10%
13. No dental treatment should be done during pregnancy. Agree 34 29.30% 2 1.70% 2 1.70% 78 67.20% 9.89 0.02*
Disagree 64 20.20% 6 1.90% 0 0.00% 247 77.90%
14. During pregnancy, the baby absorbs calcium from the teeth and bones of their mother. Agree 81 23.70% 7 2.00% 1 0.30% 253 74.00% 2.41 0.492
Disagree 17 18.70% 1 1.10% 1 1.10% 72 79.10%