Oral Hygiene Among Portuguese Older Adults

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two different oral hygiene instruction methods on oral hygiene behavior in older adults. Secondly, we intended to assess the self-perception of oral health changes with each instruction method.

This study was a clinical trial that included a convenience sample of 60 participants attending a university dental hospital (Egas Moniz Dental Clinic, Almada, Portugal).

Data were collected in two phases: The first phase (baseline) consisted of three parts: a questionnaire focusing on the participant's socioeconomic data and oral hygiene behaviors, clinical records obtained through an intraoral examination, using the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), and oral hygiene instruction.

For the oral hygiene instruction, the sample was divided into two groups of 30 participants (n=30) each group, exposed to different methods of professional education. The first one, identified as "General Approach" (GA), focuses more broadly on the different topics of oral diseases and oral hygiene care. The second group, identified as "Personalised Technique" (PT), was based on the specific needs of each participant.

After two months, to establish a follow-up session, the self-reported questionnaire on oral hygiene behavior and self-perceived oral health was administered again and the same clinical records on OHI-S were collected.

Inclusion criteria

• Being able to speak and understand Portuguese;
• Being able to understand and sign an informed consent form;
• Being literate and able to comply with the study protocol.

Exclusion criteria

• Being edentulous;
• Being institutionalized;
• Having disabilities such as blindness, deafness, or dementia.