Study on Oral Hygiene Practices, Tobacco use, and Food Habits among Tharu Community of Gadi Rural Municipality, Nepal
Background: An unhealthy diet with high sugar content, use of tobacco, high consumption of alcohol, and poor oral hygiene are common factors affecting the oral health of people. This study was conducted to explore oral hygiene practices, use of tobacco, and food habits among Tharu people (the indigenous community) in the Gadi rural municipality of Sunsari, Nepal. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Tharu community of Gadi rural municipality, Sunsari, Nepal, from February to August 2015, using a purposive sampling method. A face-to-face interview was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were performed using the IBM-SPSS 17.0. Results: Females were predominant (57.9%) in this study. About 86.8% of the participants used a toothbrush with toothpaste as a method of cleaning their teeth; 81.76% brushed once a day; 84.3% brushed in the morning. Almost 80% of the participants brushed their teeth using fluoridated toothpaste. The majority (75%) of the participants replied that they change their toothbrush for at least 6 months.
