Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the dental knowledge and the hygiene practices of school children in the age range of 12-15 years belonging to Ludhiana, a city in Punjab state of India. Material and Methods: A cross- sectional study was carried out in Ludhiana, Punjab from March 2021 to June 2021.A total of 30 schools were selected at random of different areas and approached via E-mail out of which, 8 were willing to participate. A total of 3277 students in the age group of 12-15 years participated in the survey out of which, 3000 students were randomly selected to make the sample size equal for each age. To obtain the information, on dental awareness and oral hygiene practices, an online questionnaire in the form of Google forms was administered to the students. Data management and statistical analysis was done. Results: About 48.5% of students reported a high level of knowledge about oral health and oral hygiene practices. Only 45.3% of the students brushed twice daily while 37.2% of the students practiced flossing of teeth along with brushing. About one-fifth of the children (20.9%) thought incorrectly that one must visit the dentist only in case of pain in ones teeth. About 49% of children were not aware about the cariogenic potential of soft drinks. Less than half (39.5%) of children were not aware about fluoride. Slightly more than half (51.8%) of students correctly recognised all the signs of tooth decay. Conclusion: The dental awareness and dental hygiene knowledge in Ludhiana is below satisfactory level. Less than half of the surveyed students had adequate oral health knowledge.