Tooth Brushing Frequency And Rinsing Habits And Their Effects On Oral Hygiene Index Scores (Ohis) Among The School Children In Meerut

Background: Plaque control, which involves its active removal, is a responsibility undertaken personally by individuals for better oral hygiene. Tooth brushing and oral rinsing are mechanical cleaning procedures which are considered to be the most reliable methods of effective plaque removal and thus prevention of periodontal diseases. Objective: To assess the tooth brushing frequency and rinsing habit and its effects on oral hygiene index scores (OHIS) among the school children in Meerut. Methods: Study population consisted of 503 randomly selected school children 05-18years in Meerut. Participants were examined by a dentist to assess their oral hygiene index Score (OHIS).Questionnaire on oral hygiene measures, their brushing and rinsing habits was completed by a social worker. Results: The results of this study show that the majority of the school children brushed their teeth once a day. Female children had better brushing habits than males. Only oral rinsing with normal water at night before sleep is significantly better than doing nothing but it’s not equivalent to brushing before sleep. Conclusions: For improvement oral hygiene among school children regular tooth brushing and rinsing habit is important factors. Motivation to apply instructions given on oral health care and regular reinforcement are essential.