Predictors of Dental Misconceptions Among Taif Population, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Purpose: Health education programmes play a crucial role in enhancing oral health literacy and improving treatment outcomes. However, myths and misconceptions about oral health are widespread, affecting individuals' behaviours and their willingness to seek appropriate treatment. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of oral health myths and misconceptions among adults in Taif, Saudi Arabia, and to explore potential associations with demographic factors.

Materials and methods: Participants from community health programmes in Taif (March-June 2024) completed a Google Forms questionnaire on dental myths.

Eligibility criteria: adults (≥18 years) without cognitive, hearing, or vision impairments. The questionnaire included sociodemographic details and 22 myth-related questions. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), with significance set P ≤ 0.05.

Results: The study included 429 participants. Knowledge of dental myths was highest in the 'Dental Treatment' domain (mean score: 6.42), followed by 'Oral Hygiene Practices' (3.46) and 'Deciduous Teeth and Pregnancy' (3.48). Higher education and healthcare-related majors were significantly associated with better knowledge. Conversely, males and older age groups had lower knowledge scores.

Conclusion: This study highlights the prevalence of dental myths in Taif and their association with demographic factors. Higher education- and healthcare-related fields correlate with better knowledge, but significant gaps remain, particularly among the less educated, certain occupational groups, males, and single individuals. Targeted educational interventions are essential to improving dental health knowledge and practices and enhancing oral health outcomes in the community.