Assessment of oral health belief and oral hygiene practices among the Toda tribe in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.

Background: Oral diseases make significant contributions to the global burden of disease, which is particularly high in the underprivileged groups of both developed and developing countries. The underlying cultural beliefs and practices influence the conditions of the teeth and mouth, through diet, care-seeking behaviors, or use of home remedies. The aim of the study was to assess the oral hygiene practices and beliefs of the tribal gypsies among the Chennai population. Methods: The cross-sectional study consisted of questionnaire with 10 closed ended questions. The first part of the questionnaire included information on age, sex, education, and occupation. Second part the questionnaire included information on oral hygiene practices, attitudes toward oral health and oral health beliefs. The collected data was tabulated in Microsoft Office excel. Statistical analysis was conducted by using SPSS version 23.0. Results: From the above results, it can be concluded that the people had enough knowledge about the oral hygiene practices. About 82% believed that if dental problems were neglected there would be serious implications for their oral health. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the gypsies might have favorable compliance for oral health promotional programs.