Oral hygiene measures and the periodontal status of school children

To cite this article: Int J Dent Hygiene 9, 2011; 143–148 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601‐5037.2010.00466.x Kolawole KA, Oziegbe EO, Bamise CT.Oral hygiene measures and the periodontal status of school children. : Background: Tooth brushing and other mechanical cleaning procedures are considered the most reliable methods of effective plaque removal, which is essential for prevention of periodontal diseases. Objective: To investigate the relationship between oral hygiene practices, socioeconomic status and gingival health in a group of Nigerian children. Methods: Our study population consisted of 242 randomly selected school children in Ile‐Ife, Nigeria. Participants completed a questionnaire on oral hygiene measures, their gingival health was assessed using oral hygiene index (OHI), plaque index (PI) and index of gingival inflammation (GI). Results: Toothbrushing once daily was the most common practice (52.1%). Toothbrush with a fluoride‐containing toothpaste was the most common tooth cleaning aid, while the up and down brushing technique was predominantly used. There was no statistically significant gender difference in toothbrushing frequency; however, significant gender differences were observed in PI and OHI scores (P