Knowledge and Awareness on the Role of Diet and Dental Caries Among Dental Students
Main Article Content
Abstract
tion: Oral health is related to diet in many ways, it is known that any food containing fermentable carbohydrates may potentiate the incidence of dental caries. Diet affects the integrity of teeth, salivary pH and plaque pH.
Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge and awareness on the role of diet and dental caries among dental students.
Materials and methods: A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted among 120 dental students from March to April 2020 through a self administered questionnaire. The responses were collected, tabulated in excel sheet and analysed using SPSS software. Chi square test was used to analyze the level of knowledge on diet and dental caries among dental students with statistical significance of P< 0.05.
Results: the 3rd year undergraduate dental students had high knowledge on the role of diet and dental caries compared to others. 42.5 % of the participants were aware of the effect of diet counselling preventing dental caries with the p value of 0.045, which is statistically significant.
Conclusion: This study concludes that the dental students have a good knowledge and awareness on the role of diet and dental caries.