DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2016.v03i04.002

Pages: 104-111

Abstract: In India, prevalence and severity of dental caries is increasing due to an increase in the adoption of the ‘westernized diet’. There is little recognition for oral health education in the Indian school curriculum compared with general health education. The study’s aim was to measure the association between dental caries and the level of oral health literacy among an adolescent population residing in Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India. The study aim was addressed by a quantitative cross-sectional study measuring the association between oral health literacy and the prevalence and severity of dental caries in 974 adolescent school students (12-15 year-olds) living in either rural and urban areas of Tamil Nadu, India. The severity of dental caries and prevalence of dental caries were associated with oral health literacy scores and results were statistically significant. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that factors such as gender, community and oral health literacy were significant predictors of dental caries. Scheduled Caste and Tribe populations living in rural areas and females attending public schools in either urban or rural areas were identified as the most vulnerable populations to be affected by high rates of dental caries. Development of oral health policies which are targeted efficiently to these adolescent populations are recommended for the Tamil Nadu region..