Oral mucosa lesions and risk habits: A cross-sectional study in North Serbia student ‎population

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Epidemiological studies have established a wide variation in the prevalence of oral lesions in different population. Officially oral mucosa diseases can occur in 25-50% of cases, depending on the population to which the survey was conducted. We examined the relationship between oral mucosal lesions, tongue pH level, gingivitis, oral hygiene, and oral health behaviors in student’s population. METHODS: The study was conducted among 100 dental and medical final year students with age ranges of 23-26 years at the University of Novi Sad, School of Medicine. Information about the habits and the presence of the oral mucosa lesions (OML) were collected by interview and clinical examination. Tongue pH level, gingival and approximal plaque-space index (API) was measured. Association between variables was tested with univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Lesions of the oral mucosa were found in 61% of the students. Analysis showed relationship between oral hygiene accessories and tongue lesions (P < 0.010), male students who do not consume alcohol or tea and gingivitis (P < 0.050). It was determined that coffee consumption has a significant effect on tongue pH level (P < 0.050) and prevalence of melanin pigmentation (P < 0.010). Students who consume tea showed significantly more often appearance of fissured tongue (P < 0.050) and leukoedema of buccal mucosa (P < 0.050). Significant association regarding gender was found in prevalence of tongue impressions (P < 0.050), paleness of the oral mucosa (P < 0.010) and recurrent aphthous ulcers (P < 0.050), along with acid tongue pH and oral hygiene level. CONCLUSION: According to the results, there is a high prevalence of oral mucosal lesions, as well as the existence of the association between some oral mucosal lesions, gender, harmful habits and oral hygiene accessories.