Diabetic patient awareness and knowledge about the relationship between blood sugar level and oral health in the Qassim region: Survey based study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: People with uncontrolled diabetes are at significant risk of developing several oral health-related problems. Prevention and treatment of oral diseases in diabetic patients require persistent daily self-care at home and regular dental visits. Aim: The aim of this was to assess the level of knowledge and attitude of diabetic patients toward oral health in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, survey, and facility-based study was conducted at the Endocrine and Diabetic Center in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. A simple random sampling technique was used and included male and female patients and excluding those with gestational diabetes. Each patient received a questionnaire containing four domains: sociodemographic data, oral health knowledge, general health knowledge, and oral health attitude. Results and Discussion: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) ran a detailed descriptive analysis. A sample size of 173 Saudi diabetic patients participated in this study (68 [39.3%] male and 105 [60.7%] female). Surprisingly, 75.7% did not know their diabetic type, 73.4% brush their teeth at least once daily, and 87.3% have never used interdental flossing. Just 38.2% knew diabetic patients were at a higher risk of developing oral disease. Furthermore, 19.7% have had their dentists educate them about the effect of diabetes on their oral health, and only 13.3% stated that their physicians had educated them about the relationship between diabetic status and oral health. It is paramount to ensure the role of dentists and physicians in educating patients, as most of the sample was unaware of the relationship between diabetes and oral health. Furthermore, interdental flossing is essential for dental home care and periodontium health. Most diabetic patients in this sample do not floss and must be educated about its importance. Conclusion: Integrated dental visits for diabetic patients, in coordination with their physician, may avoid further oral and general health complications.