Investigation of university students' oral health attitudes, behaviors, and habits: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Developing positive attitudes toward oral health is critical for improving general health and hygiene. This study aimed to examine the relationship between university students' oral health attitudes, behaviors, and habits. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey using convenience sampling. The Oral Health Attitude Scale (OHA-S) was applied alongside questions on socio-demographic factors and oral health attitudes and behaviors, including oral hygiene habits such as tooth brushing, flossing, dental visits and and toothbrush replacement frequencies. The data were analyzed using independent sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA (p < .05). Results During the 2023-2024 academic year, a total of 596 university students (407 females and 189 males) participated in the study. The mean age of university students was 20.2 +/- 1.67. The mean total OHA-S scores ranged from 151 to 174 according to categories, within the theoretical range of 41-205. Higher OHA-S scores were associated with frequent tooth brushing (>= 2 times/day), regular flossing, routine dental visits, and timely toothbrush replacement (all p < .05), while smoking was linked to significantly lower scores (p < .001). Conclusion University students with more positive oral health attitudes demonstrated healthier oral hygiene practices, whereas smoking negatively affected attitudes. These findings highlight the importance of preventive oral health education and the value of multidimensional assessment tools such as the OHA-S.