Oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices and sources of information for diabetic patients in Lahore, Pakistan.

Sustained hyperglycemia affects almost all tissues in the body (1), including those in the oral cavity (2). Oral complications of diabetes include xerostomia, opportunistic infections, greater accumulation of plaque, delayed wound healing, susceptibility to periodontal disease, oral paresthesia, and altered taste (2). Studies suggest a bidirectional adverse relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease; diabetes can aggravate periodontitis, and periodontitis can negatively affect control of diabetes (3,4). Therefore, preventive behaviors like brushing, flossing, and periodic dental visits, which have a positive correlation with better periodontal health (5), become paramount for diabetic patients (6). Oral hygiene behavior and seeking oral health care depend on a number of factors. Patients comply better with oral health care regimens when informed and positively reinforced. Lack of information is among the reasons for nonadherence to oral hygiene practices. Further, oral health attitudes and beliefs are significant for oral health behavior (7). A higher likelihood of seeking preventive dental care is found to be associated with dental knowledge (8). The motives prompting people to seek preventive dental care include the beliefs that one is susceptible to dental disease, that dental problems are serious, and that dental treatment is beneficial. Those who believe that they are highly susceptible to dental disease make more preventive dental visits (9). Health education attempts to change behaviors by altering an individual’s knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about health matters (9). The present study aimed to gather baseline information on knowledge, attitude, and practices of diabetic patients regarding their oral health with the view of enhancing dental health education for this population, which would upgrade their knowledge and understanding. This is believed to improve the oral health status of the diabetic patients, in turn controlling diabetes and, ultimately, quality of life.