Correct Oral Hygiene Practices

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 131 views

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Actions to Maintain Dental and Oral Health in Students with Smoking Habits at UIN Raden Intan Lampung

Introduction

Smoking is a serious health problem that affects millions of people around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Indonesia is ranked third as the country with the largest number of smokers, after China and India. Lampung Province recorded the highest prevalence of smokers in Indonesia. This study aims to examine knowledge, attitudes, and actions in maintaining oral health in students who have smoking habits. By using a descriptive survey method and cross-sectional research design, this study involved 219 respondents aged between 17 and 25 years who had smoked for at least one year, using simple random sampling techniques.

The Importance of Maintaining Dental and Oral Health

Maintaining dental and oral health is crucial for overall health and well-being. Poor oral hygiene can cause various health problems, including gum disease and tooth decay. In addition, smoking is a significant risk factor for oral cancer, heart disease, and other health problems. Therefore, it is essential to educate students about the importance of maintaining dental and oral health, especially among smokers.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Actions in Maintaining Oral Health

The results of this study revealed a surprising fact: as many as 57.3% of respondents do not have good knowledge about the right frequency and time to brush teeth. This shows that there are still many students who do not understand the practice of correct oral hygiene, which should be a major concern for every smoker. Furthermore, as many as 35.8% of respondents still strongly agree and 43.6% of respondents agreed that only toothbrushes needed to maintain the health of the oral cavity. This minimal understanding can be serious, given that poor oral hygiene can cause various health problems.

In addition, research also shows that 57.3% of respondents have inappropriate action in brushing teeth, both in terms of frequency and time. This indicates that even though there is an intention to maintain dental health, the actions taken are still far from those recommended by experts.

However, there are several respondents who have sufficient knowledge, which is 50.9%. Likewise, 76.2% of respondents showed a good attitude towards oral health maintenance. However, the inadequate level of action, which was recorded at 53.7%, showed that a positive attitude had not been followed by appropriate action.

Conclusion

From this result, it can be concluded that there is still much that needs to be done to increase students' knowledge, attitudes, and actions of the maintenance of dental and oral health, especially among smokers. A more effective health education approach, awareness campaigns about the dangers of smoking, and the introduction of correct oral hygiene practices must be a priority. By understanding the importance of maintaining oral health, it is hoped that the younger generation can reduce the negative impact of smoking on their overall health.

Recommendations

Investment in better health education can help students not only to stop smoking, but also to care for their dental and oral health optimally. Communities and educational institutions must work together to create an environment that supports positive behavior changes in maintaining health. The following recommendations can be made:

Health Education: Provide comprehensive health education to students about the importance of maintaining dental and oral health, the risks of smoking, and the benefits of quitting.
Awareness Campaigns: Organize awareness campaigns about the dangers of smoking and the importance of maintaining oral health.
Correct Oral Hygiene Practices: Introduce correct oral hygiene practices, such as brushing teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day.
Supportive Environment: Create a supportive environment that encourages positive behavior changes in maintaining health.

Future Research Directions

This study provides valuable insights into the knowledge, attitudes, and actions of students with smoking habits in maintaining oral health. However, there are still many areas that need to be explored in future research. Some potential future research directions include:

Longitudinal Study: Conduct a longitudinal study to examine the changes in knowledge, attitudes, and actions of students over time.
Comparative Study: Conduct a comparative study to examine the differences in knowledge, attitudes, and actions of students with and without smoking habits.
Intervention Study: Conduct an intervention study to examine the effectiveness of health education and awareness campaigns in improving knowledge, attitudes, and actions of students.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations that need to be acknowledged. Some of the limitations include:

Sample Size: The sample size of this study was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Sampling Method: The sampling method used in this study was simple random sampling, which may not be representative of the population.
Data Collection Method: The data collection method used in this study was a self-administered questionnaire, which may be subject to biases and limitations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the knowledge, attitudes, and actions of students with smoking habits in maintaining oral health. The findings of this study highlight the need for more effective health education and awareness campaigns to improve knowledge, attitudes, and actions of students. By understanding the importance of maintaining oral health, it is hoped that the younger generation can reduce the negative impact of smoking on their overall health.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Knowledge, Attitudes, and Actions to Maintain Dental and Oral Health in Students with Smoking Habits at UIN Raden Intan Lampung

Q: What is the main objective of this study?

A: The main objective of this study is to examine knowledge, attitudes, and actions in maintaining oral health in students who have smoking habits.

Q: What is the significance of this study?

A: This study is significant because it highlights the importance of maintaining dental and oral health, especially among smokers. The findings of this study can inform health education and awareness campaigns to improve knowledge, attitudes, and actions of students.

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

A: The key findings of this study include:

57.3% of respondents do not have good knowledge about the right frequency and time to brush teeth.
35.8% of respondents still strongly agree and 43.6% of respondents agreed that only toothbrushes needed to maintain the health of the oral cavity.
57.3% of respondents have inappropriate action in brushing teeth, both in terms of frequency and time.
50.9% of respondents have sufficient knowledge, and 76.2% of respondents showed a good attitude towards oral health maintenance.

Q: What are the implications of this study?

A: The implications of this study are that there is still much that needs to be done to increase students' knowledge, attitudes, and actions of the maintenance of dental and oral health, especially among smokers. A more effective health education approach, awareness campaigns about the dangers of smoking, and the introduction of correct oral hygiene practices must be a priority.

Q: What are the recommendations of this study?

A: The recommendations of this study include:

Health Education: Provide comprehensive health education to students about the importance of maintaining dental and oral health, the risks of smoking, and the benefits of quitting.
Awareness Campaigns: Organize awareness campaigns about the dangers of smoking and the importance of maintaining oral health.
Correct Oral Hygiene Practices: Introduce correct oral hygiene practices, such as brushing teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day.
Supportive Environment: Create a supportive environment that encourages positive behavior changes in maintaining health.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study include:

Sample Size: The sample size of this study was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Sampling Method: The sampling method used in this study was simple random sampling, which may not be representative of the population.
Data Collection Method: The data collection method used in this study was a self-administered questionnaire, which may be subject to biases and limitations.

Q: What are the future research directions of this study?

A: The future research directions of this study include:

Longitudinal Study: Conduct a longitudinal study to examine the changes in knowledge, attitudes, and actions of students over time.
Comparative Study: Conduct a comparative study to examine the differences in knowledge, attitudes, and actions of students with and without smoking habits.
Intervention Study: Conduct an intervention study to examine the effectiveness of health education and awareness campaigns in improving knowledge, attitudes, and actions of students.

Q: What are the conclusions of this study?

A: In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the knowledge, attitudes, and actions of students with smoking habits in maintaining oral health. The findings of this study highlight the need for more effective health education and awareness campaigns to improve knowledge, attitudes, and actions of students. By understanding the importance of maintaining oral health, it is hoped that the younger generation can reduce the negative impact of smoking on their overall health.