Munhygien- och kostvanor hos gymnasieelever i Prishtina, Kosovo

Abstract

The lack of a functioning dental care system in Kosovo and preventive actions affects the oral health. Good oral habits and good dietary habits are important to maintain a good oral health. Today there are many children and young people living in Sweden, who originally are from Kosovo; therefore it is interesting to investigate young people's oral hygiene, dietary and dental habits in Kosovo.

The aim of the study was to investigate the oral habits, dietary habits and dental care habits among students 16-19 years old in Prishtina, Kosovo. Material and methods: The study is a quantitative empirical study. A questionnaire including 17 questions was conducted at two selected secondary schools in Prishtina, Kosovo. A total of 150 students participated. The results showed that more than half of the respondents brushed their teeth twice a day, morning and evening with toothbrush and toothpaste, and about 80 % of the respondents used proximal devices. Less than half of the respondents (43 %) consumed five meals a day and most of the respondents ate breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. The respondents had a high intake of sweets. Regarding dental care habits, 70 % of the respondents did not visit the dentist regularly. Conclusion: The respondents had relatively good oral habits and dietary habits but had bad dental care habits.