Effect of Smoking on Dental Health Attitudes of Dental Students

Objective: to determine the prevalence of smoking and the effect of smoking on the dental health attitudes and behavior among dental students in Jordan. Basic research design and participants: Cross-sectional study of 314 dental students was conducted to determine the prevalence of smoking among them and the effect of smoking on their dental health attitudes and behavior. Methods: Subjects were surveyed using a modified version of the Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory (HU-DBI) questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses with adjustment for gender were performed in order to study difference in answers to statements between smokers and nonsmokers. Results: The response rate in this study was 83.7% with 48% males and 52% females. The prevalence of smoking was 17.2 %. Smoking was more prevalent among male students (31%) than female students (4.3%). Smokers brushed their teeth less often than nonsmokers (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.041-0.666). The percentage of students who had never been professionally taught how to brush their teeth was higher among smokers (OR 0.139, CI).031-0.619. The odds of brushing their teeth with strong strokes were higher among smokers (OR 1.351, 95% CI 1.281-2.308). Smokers were less concerned about having a bad breath (OR 0.072, CI 0.011-0.455)and they were less bothered by the color of thier gums (OR 0.286, CI 0.094-0.870). Conclusions: smoking prevalence among dental students in Jordan is high. More efforts need to be done at the level of education and training of students about tobacco cessation and control.