Principal Correspondent
Kohima, February 24
About 89.1% of children between the age group of 8-13 years in Nagaland are aware about the oral hygiene, revealed the Nagaland School Oral Health Survey Report 2013-14 released by Department of Health and Family Welfare here today. Oral health pertains to the health of the tissues of the oral cavity including dentition and it forms an important part of general health, stated the report while adding that poor management of oral hygiene during childhood can lead o a cascade of oral tissue pathosis in adult leading to severe form of oral structure compromises.
The survey was conducted in six districts, namely Dimapur, Kohima, Mon, Peren, Phek and Wokha for 1013 students of 8-13 age group or Class 3-8 by the HFW Department by outsourcing it to Dr. M. L. Ngullie, Prof of Economics and Statistics, Dimapur Government College.
The report revealed that 532 students were taken from urban areas while 481 were considered from rural for interview through a list of queries provided by HFW Department.
The report reveals that 89.1% children had knowledge about the importance of brushing, out of which 76.7% were taught by their parents while 81.5% were created awareness by their teachers, revealed HFW Joint Director (Dental) Dr. H. Hotokhu Chishi while presenting the highlights of the survey report.
The reports reveals that 98.4% children in the said age group have brushed their teeth at least once in life, while 79.9% brush their teeth daily and barely 22.3% brush twice daily.
Only 1.6% of the total children had never brushed their teeth, the report stated.
Dr. Chishi also pointed that in order to maintain good oral health, it is more important to brush the teeth before going to bed than brushing the teeth in the morning.
Earlier, officially releasing the report as the chief guest of the function, Additional Secretary HFW, Kesonyü Yhome expressed concern on 24% of the children between 8-13 years using tobacco. He therefore stressed on the need of inter-department coordination to create intensified awareness about the ill-effects of tobacco consumption.
He said a paradigm shift in the attitudinal change is necessary amongst the people of the State to take preventive measures rather than looking for curative measures.
Exhorting the gathering of dental surgeons and other medical officers, Mission Director National Health Mission, Dr Nandira Changkija said that dental surgeons with about 200 of them are the largest group of doctors in the State. She therefore called upon them to have vision of setting up a dental college and bringing about better dental equipments in the State.
Director (Health) Dr. Neikietuo Chietsotsu chaired the programme while Additional Director (Dental) Dr. N. Savino tendered the vote of thanks.
Other Highlights of the survey include:
Children with poor oral hygiene regime 22.3%
Children with dental plagues 41%
Children with calculus 30.9%
Children with mal occlusion 30.5%
Children with caries 38.7%
Children with rampant carries 12.6%
Children who brush & still with caries 38.7%
Children with not brush and caries 36.77%
Children using adult size tooth brush 71.76%
Children using adult toothpaste 82.83%
Children with cleft palate 4.6%
Children with cleft lip 1.8%
Children with bleeding gum 48.5%
Children with tobacco products 28.3%
Children with smokes 14.8%
Children who visited dentist 19%
Children with restoration (filling) 5.5%
Children with toothache 43.7%
