Effect of oral health behavior and demographic variables on gingival health in 11-16-year-old school children in Chandigarh, India: A cross-sectional study

AIMS: The aims of the present study were to assess the prevalence and pattern of gingival bleeding on probing (BOP) and to evaluate the effect of oral health behavior and demographic determinants on gingival health in 11-16-year-old school children in Chandigarh, India. METHODS: A cross-sectional study, using stratified random sampling, was conducted across two age groups, 11-13 years and 14-16 years, and two socioeconomic strata: upper and lower. The World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Health Questionnaire for Children was used to record the data, and the WHO Community Periodontal Index (modified) was used to assess gingival BOP. RESULTS: Among all the 2294 children examined, an estimated 54.2% had gingival BOP. The odds of BOP were also higher in the younger age group (odds ratio [OR]: 1.261, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.068-1.487, P = 0.006), higher for boys (OR: 1.200, 95% CI: 1.017-1.416, P = 0.031), and lower in the upper strata (OR: 0.805, 95% CI: 0.682-0.951, P = 0.011). Gingival BOP was 58.5% in the mandibular and 41.5% in the maxillary arch (P < 0.0001); χ2 -test found tooth cleaning frequency to be a significant contributing factor for gingival BOP (P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: An inverse co-relation of gingival BOP with age, socioeconomic status, and a higher prevalence in boys was observed, necessitating periodic preventive dental education, particularly focusing on the target group. Additionally, early screening and prompt treatment to intercept the disease is advocated.