Promotion of Appropriate Use of Dental Floss Among Women Undergraduate Students of South India: An Oral Health Pre–Post Study

Abstract

Objectives: The prime motive of this study was oral health promotion on the appropriate use of dental floss among women undergraduate students of South India. The aim is to measure the impact of health promotion in increasing awareness and enhancing attitudes and practices regarding the proper use of dental floss to improve their overall oral health. Methods: This is a multisite quasi-experimental pretest, posttest study among women undergraduate students aged 18–25 years. Data were recorded, and an oral health talk and demonstration on the appropriate use of dental floss was provided to the study subjects, who were again examined after 4 weeks, and their oral hygiene status and adherence to dental floss usage were assessed. Oral hygiene status of study subjects was measured using the Oral Hygiene Index–Simplified (OHI-S) and Patient Hygiene Performance Index (PHP) indices. Results: Statistical analysis was done using paired t-test and Pearson's correlation. Debris Index–Simplified (DI-S), OHI-S and PHP indices showed a very highly significant reduction from baseline to 4-week follow-up (p < 0.000), indicating considerable improvement in the oral hygiene status of study subjects. PHP index scores significantly increased with age (p < 0.037, Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.28), indicating that younger participants showed a higher reduction in PHP index scores. Conclusion: Significant improvement in oral hygiene status shows that oral health education and promotion of dental floss have inculcated the habit of regular flossing among women undergraduate students of South India. It is also seen that the younger age group showed better results, implying a more adaptable age for learning.