شبكة المعلومات العربية التربوية

The study aimed to examine the role of health education in preventing dental caries among university students in Gaza, with a focus on toothbrushing habits. The study explored the relationship between dental caries occurrence and various oral hygiene factors, including brushing method, brushing duration, brushing frequency, type of toothbrush, and the use of fluoride-containing toothpaste. A case-control study design was employed, with a sample of 400 students selected randomly from universities in the Gaza Strip. Data was collected using clinical dental examination tools and structured questionnaires. Permissions were obtained from university administrations prior to data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, employing frequency tables, chi-square tests, and t-tests. The results showed a statistically significant relationship between dental caries occurrence and both the method of brushing and the use of fluoride toothpaste. However, no significant relationship was found between caries occurrence and the frequency or duration of brushing or the age of the toothbrush. These findings underscore the importance of health education in promoting effective oral hygiene practices to reduce the prevalence of dental care among young adults. (Published abstract)