Analysis of the Association between Fast Food on Oral Health and Hygiene - A Survey

Abstract

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being of an individual and not merely the
absence of disease or immunity status of an individual. An unhealthy diet is proven to implicate many risk
factors for the incidence of oral diseases. Thus, there are various health education programs to educate
people on the importance of a proper healthy diet, thereby reducing the incidence of oral diseases prevailing
because of an unhealthy diet. Thus, this survey was done to evaluate the awareness of people towards
maintaining a proper healthy diet. This study was done to check the awareness of people towards the risk
factors and impacts of fast food on the oral health status of a person. This is a questionnaire based survey.
An online questionnaire was shared among 100 dental students in Chennai. Based on the answers from
the survey, the data was compiled and analyzed and based on the results of the survey, the responses were
analysed through statistical analysis software SPSS version 20.0. The results of the study showed that 90%
of the individuals who took part in the survey consumed fast food, out of which 78% of them were nonvegetarians. 91% of them were aware of the complications of having an unhealthy diet and what risk factors
it possessed to the oral health of an individual. 40% of the individuals consume fast food at least once a
week. 77% knew the causative reasons for the incidence of dental caries in an individual. Within the limits
of the study, the study results showed that most individuals who took part in the survey consume food from
fast food and they weren’t aware of the impacts of unhealthy nutrition and bad hygiene measures. This
survey had created an impact on the individuals by educating them on the benefits of having a healthy diet
and proper hygiene.