Factors associated with oral hygiene practices among pregnant women: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

This study aims to assess the general and pregnancy-specific oral health knowledge, levels of social support, and dental anxiety in pregnant women, as well as their association with oral hygiene habits. Pregnancy is associated with physiological and behavioral changes that may influence oral health. Understanding the relationships between oral health knowledge, perceived social support, dental anxiety, and oral hygiene behaviors may contribute to improving oral health promotion during pregnancy. This study was conducted as a cross-sectional survey involving pregnant women who visited the Obstetrics outpatient clinic. Eligible pregnant women who attended the obstetrics outpatient clinic during the study period, met the inclusion criteria, and provided written informed consent were invited to participate in the study and complete the study questionnaires. The survey consisted of five sections; General Oral Health Knowledge, Oral Health Knowledge Specific to Pregnancy, Dental Anxiety, Social Support, Oral Hygiene Habits.Associations were evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and multivariable regression analyses after adjustment for potential confounding variables. The study included 176 pregnant women with a mean age of 30.2 ± 5.6 years and a mean gestational age of 23 weeks. On average, participants answered 2 out of 4 general oral health knowledge questions and 2 out of 6 pregnancy-related oral health knowledge questions correctly. The mean Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) score was 10.6 ± 4.8, and the mean Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) total score was 69.7 ± 18.6. Pregnancy-specific oral health knowledge was positively correlated with the use of dental floss or interdental brushes and mouthwash. Pregnancy presents unique challenges for oral health. In this cross-sectional study, higher oral health knowledge and higher educational status were independently associated with more favorable oral hygiene practices. Although perceived social support showed positive associations in univariable analyses, these associations were not retained after multivariable adjustment. These findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causal relationships and warrant confirmation in larger prospective studies.