Diabetes mellitus patients’ knowledge, attitude and awareness on oral hygiene at Kanpur: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and awareness of patients with
diabetes mellitus, and their oral hygiene practices, in Kanpur, India. Materials and Methods:
The study was performed in 2 months and involved 244 patients diagnosed with diabetes
mellitus, undergoing dental treatment to which a questionnaire was distributed. The resulting
data were evaluated using statistical software and the frequency of distribution was calculated,
followed by the percentage. Results: The knowledge of diabetics about their increased risk
for oral diseases, and dryness of the mouth was significant. Regarding participants' sources of
information about their oral health, the majority of the participants had received the
information from their dentist (51.7%). Conclusions: The results of this study show
decreased awareness of diabetic patients about their increased risk for oral diseases.