Year : 2019

Volume : Volume 10

Issue : Issue 1s

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Jyoti Chand.
jyotichand@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  Oral health literacy (OHL) is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic or oral health related information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. OHL has been identified as a key in promoting oral health behaviors and preventing oral health diseases including periodontal diseases, this study aims to examine OHL levels among the Indian sub-urban population and to correlate its association with periodontal health status which was assessed with the help of different periodontal parameters, this cross-sectional study included 400 new patients reporting to  Department of  Periodontics,  OHL was measured by REALD-30  (Rapid estimation of adult literacy in dentistry) score and personal oral health related practice and knowledge was assessed with the help of basic oral health related questionnaire , results revealed that maximum number of patients having severe &  moderate forms of periodontitis displayed low oral health literacy, Only 62% (between age group 18-35) and 38% (between age group 36-50) of the subjects came up with a score of high oral health literacy , a statistically significant association (p<0.001) was found between low OHL, low education levels and poor Periodontal/dental health, thereby concluding that lower OHL level  is associated with low oral hygiene maintenance and a greater severity of Periodontal Diseases among  the  suburban population of India and undertaking measures in improving oral health literacy can further results in improvement in oral health related quality of life, better gingival and Periodontal health status  and eventually better overall health.

Keywords: Health literacy, Oral health literacy, oral health, Periodontitis, Gingivitis, oral hygiene.