Tooth Loss and Its Association With Frequency of Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Yemeni Women

Backgrounds: : The present study sought to assess tooth loss and oral hygiene practices among a sample of Yemeni women in association with giving births (parity). Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a sample of 644 Yemeni women. They were interviewed to gather socio-demographic (age, education, number of children) and behavioral data (oral hygiene practices, khat chewing and smoking). Additionally, they were examined clinically to assess number of tooth loss. Data were analyzed using SPSS with a P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: : The participating women aged between 16 and 51 years. Only one fifth of the sample reported brushing their teeth regularly (i.e, at least once a day), and around 36.8% reported using dental aids occasionally. Additionally, 52% and 21% of the sample reported they were khat chewers and smokers, respectively. The mean number of tooth loss was 4.7. The mean number of children was 4.15, with approximately 54% of the participating women had more than 3 children. The results of the logistic regression revealed a significant association between number of children and tooth loss. Conclusion: Yemeni women had poor oral hygiene practices and high prevalence of tooth loss increased proportionally with the increased number of children. This emphasizes the importance of an effective oral hygiene motivation and health education among female patients during pregnancy periods.