Jordanian Teachers Knowledge, Attitude and Awareness Regarding Students Oral Health

Introduction: Oral health plays an integral part in health sciences. Oral diseases have adverse impacts on the quality of patient's life. Dental caries and periodontal disease are considered the most common non - communicable preventable disease among adolescents and children. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dental caries affects 60% to 90% of school - aged children, Oral disease is a significant public health problem in Jordan, and therefore school teachers should have a role in dental education at the school. The purpose of this study is to assess the level of school teachers? attitudes and knowledge of oral health, their perception and experiences of receiving and implementing educational programs on students' oral health status. Method: This was a cross - sectional survey in which 263 teachers at government and private schools in Jordan in two areas (Amman and AL - Zarqa) were surveyed to determine their knowledge and perception toward oral health. A total of 480students were randomly chosen for clinical examination of their oral health using the decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23. Results: About 88% of teachers agreed that oral health plays a role in general health; 74.1% of them agreed that decay, gum disease, bad breath, and stains on teeth are caused by irregular tooth brushing; 82.5% agreed that a clean mouth can protect against tooth decay; 93.9% thought that maintaining a healthy mouth is their own responsibility; 87.8% had visited the dentist, the majority of them (28.2%) for pain - related reasons; 90.5% thought that it is necessary to visit a dentist regularly to maintain oral health; 87.8% of teachers reported using a toothbrush and toothpaste; just over half (51.0%) cleaned their mouth twice daily; 37.6% of teachers had been trained to provide education on topics related to the teeth and mouth; and 63.1% had attempted to educate their students about oral health. Conclusion: The majority of teachers demonstrated good knowledge; attitudes and practices regarding oral health. More teachers should be included in the educational programs and adequately trained in order to have an efficient role in the promotion of good oral health to their students. The knowledge of teachers about preventative measures must be strengthened by the establishment of a comprehensive oral health - promotion program by the government to decrease the psychosocial stress of poor oral health, and reduce the duration and the costs of these tooth problems if they are diagnosed early.