Oral Hygiene Practices and Gingival Health among Schoolchildren in Cameroon

Objective: To assess the oral hygiene practices and gingival health among schoolchildren in North West province, Cameroon. Methods: This cross-sectional survey among 12 -13 years old children of selected rural and urban secondary schools in North West province of Cameroon was conducted between March and November, 2010. Results: Out of 2,287 school children, 1676 (73.3%) had normal gingiva while 611 (26.7%) had gingivitis of varying severity. In terms of severity, mild gingivitis constituted 549 (89.9%), moderate gingivitis 49 (8.0%) and severity gingivitis 13 (2.1%). Majority 1929 (85.4%) have received instruction on how to care for their teeth, with their parents 1227 (53.7) being the predominant source. Dental professionals' contribution as source of instruction on oral care was low. The reasons for tooth cleaning in descending order were to make teeth clean, prevent mouth odour, make teeth stronger, prevent pain and dental diseases. About 166 (50.2%) indulge in once-daily toothbrushing. Other oral hygiene aid utilized by the respondents include wooden toothpick- 802 (35.5%) and dental floss- 25 (1.1%). Conclusion: The prevalence of gingivitis among Cameroonian schoolchildren in Northwest province was 26.7% with majority being of mild gingivitis category. There need to increase dental professionals' contribution as source of instruction on oral care.