DT News - MEA - Survey finds low oral health awareness among Saudi Arabians

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 13 January 2016

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: As one of the first research projects to investigate oral hygiene practices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), a survey has found a significant lack of awareness regarding preventive oral health care. In addition to the poor oral hygiene habits of many Saudi Arabians, it further found that only 11.5 per cent of Saudi Arabians had undergone a routine dental check-up in the last 12 months, despite having free access to health care in the country.

The research was conducted as part of the Saudi Health Interview Survey, a large household survey aimed to assess the burden of chronic diseases and their risk factors in the KSA in 2013. In order to determine the current status of oral health practices and the use of oral health services in the country, researchers from the KSA Ministry of Health together with researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle in the US analysed data from 10,735 participants aged 15 and older.

Self-reported data on utilisation of health care services and oral health-related behaviours, such as toothbrushing, flossing and use of miswak, was gathered via a questionnaire. Miswak is a traditional chewing stick made from the plant Salvadora persica. For religious and cultural reasons, the use of miswak as a natural toothbrush is firmly established and widespread in Saudi Arabia and many other Muslim countries.

The results showed that 6.3 million Saudi Arabians (48.6 per cent) had visited a dental clinic in the past 12 months owing to a medical complaint. In contrast, only 1.5 million (11.5 per cent) had seen their dentist for a routine check-up. The likelihood of visiting a dental clinic for a standard check-up increased among the most educated and those who practise regular oral hygiene habits, but decreased for those whose last routine medical examination was more than four years before.

As for daily oral hygiene habits, 71.5 per cent reported brushing their teeth at least once a day, but only 6.3 per cent reported flossing with the same frequency. A total of 16 per cent reported not brushing their teeth at all, while 85 per cent said they never floss and 52 per cent stated that they never use miswak. Among those who do not brush their teeth, 93.2 per cent also do not floss and 47.9 per cent do not use miswak.

Generally, the high prevalence of miswak use, even among those who do not brush or floss, was a major finding of the study. Although its medical benefits have not been scientifically proven, one reason for its widespread use in the Muslim world is that it has been cited as one of the practices of the Prophet Muhammad, the researchers said.

Taking this into account, religious support for future dental programmes is deemed essential for health promotion in the country. Hence, the researchers suggested that channels through which Saudi Arabians have learned about miswak use and other religious hygiene practices may be leveraged to establish good oral health practices, such as brushing, flossing and attending free dental clinics.

In addition to private health care providers, free public medical care is available to Saudi Arabians in over 2,000 primary health care facilities throughout the country. According to the researchers, the majority of these public facilities have a dental clinic and a referral mechanism for dental care at regional centres.

The study, titled “Use of dental clinics and oral hygiene practices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2013”, was published online on 7 January in the International Dental Journal.

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