Islamic teachings as a motivational tool for oral health education

Aim: The current study investigates which Islamic teachings may potentially be used as a source of oral health education and motivation for Muslim patients.

Objective: The study objective is to develop a set of recommendations for use by dentists in delivering oral health advice or instruction to Muslim patients, highlighting Islamic teachings relevant to oral hygiene as a motivational tool.

Methods: The study reviews literature in the following areas:

1. Motivation. Developing work in application of motivational theory to health behaviour change has improved patient adherence to health care advice in such diverse areas as diabetes, fitness and oral health. These findings are reviewed in relation to religious treatises to identify areas of overlap likely to assist in motivating patients to perform and comply with oral hygiene measures.

2. Integration of oral and general health. Since oral health both reflects and contributes to general health, health teaching in the Islamic religious teachings, with particular reference to the Hadith and Quran, is reviewed to identify key themes. These themes are examined in relation to the physical benefits and spiritual benefits of maintaining oral hygiene.

3. Oral hygiene methods. Modes of implementation of oral hygiene in the Islamic context, particularly, the early Islamic toothbrush, the Miswak, are evaluated.

Results: The current study found that Islamic teachings including the Quran and Hadith, may be used as a source of oral health education and motivation for Muslim patients.

Conclusions: A prototype for oral health education of Muslim patients using Islamic teaching as a motivational tool has been developed for testing by dental practitioners.