Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Oral Hygiene Practices and Self-Reported Oral Health Status of Clinical Health Care Workers in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: The novel virus, Coronal Virus (COVID-19) has affected every aspect of life including healthcare specifically, how it has influenced the choice of oral hygiene materials of frontline healthcare workers especially in a tertiary setting remains uncertain.

AIM: To assess the impact of COVID-19 on the choice of oral hygiene materials and self-reported oral health status of Professional Healthcare Workers, at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of (150) clinical professional healthcare workers of the University College Hospital, Ibadan using a GOOGLE online questionnaire form. Information on oral hygiene practices before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was obtained from respondents. Ethical approval was obtained from the Joint UI/UCH Ethical Approval Board. Data were analysed with SPSS and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05

RESULTS: The age of respondents ranged from 22 - 68 years and the mean age was 35.9 (± 10.7) years. There were 69 (46.0%) males. A total of 66 (44.0%) used dental floss prior to the COVID-19 pandemic while 68 (45.3%) used it during the COVID-19 pandemic. All (100%) used toothbrushes before the pandemic, compared to 148 (98.6%) who used them during the pandemic and 45 (30.0%) used wooden toothpicks before and during the pandemic. None used harmful substances like concoctions during the pandemic. There was no significant difference in the choice of teeth cleaning materials before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (P = 0.483). 93.3% of HCWs reported that they had good oral health status before the pandemic. There was a slight drop of 1.7% in the state of the self-reported oral health status of the HCWs.

CONCLUSION: There was no change in the choice of oral hygiene materials of the frontline health care workers before and during the pandemic. HCWs relatively maintained fair standards of oral hygiene practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. None resorted to the use of harmful substances.