Oral health behavior and prevalence of dental caries among 12-year-old school-children in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Aim: To study Oral health behavior and prevalence of dental caries, among 12-year-old pupils in Dar-es-Salaam,
Tanzania. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study that involved 310 pupils of 12-year-old (males -
43.5% and females - 56.5%). Oral health related behavior and knowledge on causes and prevention of dental caries
were investigated using a structured questionnaire. Caries experience was assessed using WHO methods. Results:
Tooth brushing at least once/day was reported by 92.1% of the children and 71.9 % used toothpaste. Children
reported to consume sugary snacks/drinks more often at home (64.5%) than in school (35.5%). Most of the pupils
(76.1%) had never visited a dentist. Most children (71.9%) indicated sugary snacks as the main cause of dental
caries, and for prevention, they recommended avoiding sweets/sugary foods (53.5%), and tooth brushing (40.3%).
The mean Decay-Missing-Filled-Teeth (DMFT) was 0.76 ± 1.17 (SD), was significantly higher among girls (0.84)
than boys (0.64), (P = 0.02). A total of 58.4% of the participants were caries free. Higher caries experience was
related to lower brushing frequency, irregular use of toothpaste and high frequency of sugary snack consumption (P
< 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of dental caries among 12-year-olds was lower than the WHO global goal,
knowledge on the causes and prevention of dental caries were reasonably good, and consumption of sugary food
stuffs was done more at home than in schools. Most of the children had never visited a dentist.

Keywords: Dental caries, DMFT, tooth brushing, Sugary-food-stuffs, 12-year-old children.

Tanzania Dental Journal Vol. 14 (1) 2007: pp. 1-7