Study of Oral Hygiene Knowledge and Practices Among Secondary School Students in Enugu State

Adolescent oral hygiene behaviour established during secondary school years has long-term implications for adult dental health, making its assessment in South East Nigerian schools an important foundation for oral health promotion. This study examined the oral hygiene knowledge and practices of secondary school students in Enugu North and Enugu East Local Government Areas, Enugu State, South East Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 350 students aged 13 to 18 years selected by stratified random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire assessed knowledge of dental disease causation, toothbrushing frequency, interdental cleaning practices, and professional dental visit history. Clinical oral hygiene status was assessed using the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified for a subsample of 150 students. Results showed that 74.3 percent had adequate knowledge about plaque as a cause of gum disease but only 38.6 percent brushed twice daily. Dental flossing was practised by fewer than 5 percent. Professional dental visits in the preceding 12 months were reported by only 12.0 percent. The mean OHI-S score was 2.41, indicating fair oral hygiene. Knowledge scores were significantly higher in private school students than public school counterparts. There was a weak positive correlation between knowledge and practice scores, suggesting that knowledge alone was insufficient to drive behaviour change. Recommendations include integrating oral health into the secondary school health curriculum, deploying dental health educators to Enugu State secondary schools, and establishing school dental clinics.

Keywords: oral hygiene, knowledge and practice, secondary school students, Enugu State, adolescent dental health