Influence of the Students’ Dental Health Literacy on Personal Dental Hygiene

Previous research data have shown that low oral health literacy is widespread and this may explain some of the differences in oral health. Thus, some limited oral health literacy contributes to poor oral health status. An illiterate person does not have basic health literacy skills. When it comes to oral hygiene, they lack basic knowledge and skills related to proper oral care and are not interested at all in this area. From a health perspective, a literate person will certainly be better able to answer the question “what do I need to do to improve my oral health?” Thus, poor oral health literacy is a new emerging oral health risk factor, Therefore, it is a particularly relevant topic for improving the current situation. The aim of research is to analyze the influence of students‘ oral health literacy on personal oral hygiene. Research methods. For the implementation of the research aim and objectives, a quantitative research was selected using a questionnaire survey. During this study, a questionnaire compiled by the author of the work was used based on the analysis of the literature. The study was conducted online by sharing a questionnaire. The survey was performed from April 30 to May 6, 2020. In the survey 88 students of Utena University of Applied Sciences was participated. Research results. The evaluation test group respondents’ knowledge about oral hygiene, it turned out that the best knowledge about oral hygiene showed students who individual oral hygiene was rated very good, and those students who are studying in studies relating to oral care and poorer knowledge demonstrated by those students who individual oral hygiene assess bad and those students who are studying studies not related to oral care