Oral Health Status among Medical Students: A Comparative Study between Egyptian and Malaysian Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 public health department, faculty of medicine, Tanta university

2 1Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Tanta Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt

3 Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Tanta Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Good oral health is a vital component of general health. Maintaining good oral hygiene via personal and specialized care is the best prevention for dental health problems. This study aimed to compare the oral health status and oral hygiene among Egyptian and Malaysian medical students studying at Tanta University, Egypt. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among Egyptian and Malaysian students at Tanta faculty of medicine using WHO self-administered questionnaires to collect the data concerning their oral health status and oral hygiene habits. Results: The study included 426 undergraduate medical students (202 Malaysian and 224 Egyptian), two thirds (66.4%) of Egyptian students had pain or discomfort in their teeth or mouth during the past twelve months compared to only 39.1% of Malaysian. One-third (33.7%) of Malaysian students reported the good condition of their teeth and gums compared to 37.5% of Egyptian students. Among Malaysian students, 65.8% reported daily brushing of their teeth twice or more, whereas only 28.1% of Egyptian students did, with statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Defective oral hygienic practice was especially noted among Egyptian students necessitating the implementation of oral health promoting programs for children and adolescents.

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