Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği dergisi (Online), cilt.6, sa.1, ss.39-47, 2024 (Hakemli Dergi)
Aim: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the oral hygiene habits of children in the post-earthquake period in Malatya. Material and Methods: Three hundred parents presented to Inonu University Department of Pediatric Dentistry for examination/treatment participated in this study. The survey consists of a total of 18 questions. Descriptive statistical methods were used when evaluating the study data. The Chi-square test was used to compare qualitative data. Significance was evaluated at p<0.05 level. Results: 43.3% of the children participating in the study were brushing teeth once a day before the earthquake, 40.3% were brushing teeth rarely, 15% were brushing twice or more a day, and 1.3% were not brushing at all. After the earthquake, the rate of brushing teeth once a day was 31.3%, the rate of brushing teeth twice a day or more was 13%, the rate of rarely brushing teeth was 50%, and the rate of not brushing at all was 5.7%. The decrease in tooth brushing habits of children whose housing changed after the earthquake (30.8%) was statistically significantly higher than that of children whose housing did not change (20%) (p:0.027; p< 0.05). Conclusion: As a result of this study, it was observed that children's oral hygiene habits unfortunately decreased or disappeared as their housing conditions changed. Appropriate living conditions should be provided for children as soon as possible after natural disasters, and oral hygiene habits should be restarted.