Self-reported oral hygiene habits, health knowledge, and sources of oral health information in a group of Japanese junior high school students.

The purpose of the present study was to analyze self-reported oral hygiene habits, sources of oral health information, and oral health knowledge in a group of Japanese junior high school students and to determine whether there is a need for improvement in the school's present oral health instruction. A sample of 110 students aged 12-14 in Chiba City were surveyed by means of a questionnaire composed of 24 multiple choice questions. The questions focused on: (1) experience of school-based oral health education, (2) sources of oral health information, (3) knowledge about dental caries, periodontal disease, and the preventive action of fluoride, (4) oral hygiene habits, and (5) dietary behavior. Results showed that more than two-thirds of the students had participated in some kind of school-based oral health education program. Most students (76%) claimed that toothbrushing was the main event attended and 63% claimed that toothbrushing was the main subject they had been taught. The school nurse was identified by 48% of the students as their main source of oral health information in school-based oral health education. When asked to identify their main source of oral health information, most of the students identified "school". Half of the students (48%) identified dental plaque as the main cause of dental caries but only 31%, as the main cause of periodontal disease. Few students (11%) were able to identify the preventive action of fluoride; 58% answered "I don't know"). These results suggest that a meaningful target for the oral health education of children should be the improvement of the school's oral health instruction.