1.1 Introduction
Oral hygiene is the science and practice of identifying, treating, and preventing oral illnesses. Good oral hygiene is the foundation of a healthy mouth and may prevent 80% of oral or dental problems. Dental caries and periodontal disorders can be avoided primarily by following the guidelines for good oral hygiene. Regretfully, relatively little oral hygiene is practiced in our society. According to a poll conducted in India, there is a dearth of knowledge on oral health, and many youngsters in the nation wash their teeth using traditional ways rather than using a toothbrush.
According to Gryphon et al. (2012), Choo et al. (2001), and Chambrone et al. (2011), utilizing a thorough understanding of the risk factors can help prevent many of these oral illnesses. It is crucial to maintain great oral health, since it is related to overall health and quality of life. The most efficient method of preventing dental caries is to remove dental plaque with regular, adequate mechanical teeth cleaning. This is a crucial component of maintaining oral health.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Oral health is interdependent, with each influencing the other (Peres et al., 2019; Shah et al., 2014; Tavares et al., 2014; Richards, 2016). The most important variables promoting the prevalence of several oral illnesses include poor oral hygiene habits, smoking, alcohol consumption, and improper food. Numerous disorders affecting the soft tissues of the mouth, including oral cancer, periodontitis, dental caries, and tooth erosion, are influenced by diet. Oral cancer, gingivitis, periodontal disease, periimplantitis, tooth discolouration, halitosis, altered taste buds, and trouble healing surgical incisions have all been related to smoking. Consuming large amounts of alcohol is linked to a higher chance of developing periodontitis, dental caries, xerostomia, and oral cancer, among other potentially fatal conditions. In addition to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, poor oral hygiene can cause periodontitis and dental caries Richards, 2016; Cetinkaya et al., 2020; Cianetti et al., 2021; Sheiham et al., 2001; Pitts et al., 2017).
Hygiene is very old concept related to medicine, as well as to peculiar and specialised care practices related to most aspects of living. During the manufacturing of food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other products, good hygiene is a key part of quality reassurance. It ensures that the product conforms with microbial specifications appropriate to its use. In medical terms, Oral Hygiene involves personal attention by an individual to prevent diseases. It also involves different habits such as washing hands, the entire body, hair care, nails trimming, clean clothing to warm and protect the skin as well as teeth brushing in effort to keep bacteria, virus and fungi away from direct or indirect contact with the body.
Hygiene refers to practices and conditions that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases. They include practices that deal with the preservation of health. Basic Oral Hygiene refers to the principles of maintaining cleanliness and grooming of the external body parts. It includes practices such as bathing regularly, washing hands whenever necessary, trimming of finger and toe nails, wearing washed clothes daily, washing the hair and keeping clean from lice and dandruff, brushing the teeth and caring for the gums (Seenivasan et al., 2016).
According to Seenivasan et al, (2016) these morbidities are found to be higher and more severe among children than adults. Infection and malnutrition form a vicious cycle compromising the child’s attendance and performance at school, retarding the child’s overall development, including physical, mental and social development. Lack of Oral Hygiene and unhygienic living conditions promote person-to-person transmission of infections and seem to be an important factor for high incidence of skin diseases, respiratory diseases, worm infections, diarrhea and dental diseases.
Ejifugha, and Ibhafidon (2014) submitted that maintenance of optimal Oral Hygiene has always been a challenge to adolescents in schools in Nigeria. Well groomed adolescents whose knowledge of Oral Hygiene taught in school and reinforced by their home orientations demonstrate a high level of Oral Hygiene. Oral Hygiene is individualistic and depends comprehensively on the active and passive activities people engage in to promote Oral Hygiene. Such practices include personal actions for preventing or minimizing the effects of diseases, prevention of infection and illness and ensuring that life is safe from spread of diseases. Practically, personal health encompasses dressing and clothing, physical fitness, rest and exercise, use of cosmetics, oral hygiene and hair care. Proper maintenance of these skills can promote prevention of infections, skin diseases and strengthen body fitness generally.
The goal of maintaining good oral hygiene is to avoid illnesses and other health issues by monitoring and encouraging healthy behaviour in areas that are related to health. Since it has been shown to be beneficial in lowering morbidity and mortality, particularly in children, good Oral Hygiene therefore serves as the main method for preventing health problems (Ahmadu et al., 2013).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Attitudes and Practice towards Oral Hygiene
1.3 Statement of Problems
According to an investigation, several studies have demonstrated that poor oral hygiene has a role in the spread of bacteria, gum disease, a higher risk of infectious diseases, food-borne outbreaks, and infections of the reproductive system. Inadequate understanding of Oral Hygiene and associated practices has been blamed for these.
It has been shown that oral hygiene deficiencies remain a major public health issue in underdeveloped nations such as Nigeria, frequently affecting school-age individuals. To the best of my knowledge, there have been only been a few studies on younger kids in the literature, and no official research has been done on secondary school students' awareness of personal cleanliness.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to assess the Attitudes and Practice towards Oral Hygiene in Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine how students in the study area practice dental hygiene and offer advice on proper oral hygiene;
- To ascertain the knowledge of Secondary School Students on oral hygiene;
- To assess the attitude of students towards learning oral hygiene; and
- To evaluate the extent of oral hygiene practices among Students in the study area.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- How does individuals in the study area practice dental hygiene and offer advice on proper oral hygiene?
- To what extent does Students in the study area practice oral hygiene?
- What is the attitude of students towards learning oral hygiene?
- What is the knowledge of Secondary School Students on oral hygiene?
