Page 21 - SPEMD_67-1

rev port estomatol med dent cir maxilofac . 2026;67(1):11-20 15

100
90 81.1

80 63.6
70
Frequency (%) 60

50
40

30
20 25.0 22.5 19.4
10

0
In the morning, In the morning, After lunch After dinner Before going to
before breakfast after breakfast sleep

Figure 2. Brushing time (n=360).

Canker sores 51.9
Dental caries 46.1
Tooth sensitivity 36.7
Bleeding 25.8
Dental trauma 21.9
Bruxism (teeth grinding) 11.9
Periodontitis 7.2
No problems 6.1
Temporomandibular joint problems 4.7
Anodontia of the upper incisors 0.3
Oral cancer 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Frequency (%)

Figure 3. Self-reported oral health problems (n=360).

ment. This score was higher than those reported for Israeli The HUDBI items that reflected more positive behaviors
24
army recruits (5.8) and Paraguayan Air Force recruits (6.33). 25 and attitudes indicated concerns about bad breath, tooth col-
Conversely, it was slightly lower than the score reported in a or, gum color, and dental visits. This pattern is consistent with
Portuguese non-military population of students studying oral findings reported among Paraguayan recruits, in whom con-
19
health (7.3) Despite opportunities for improvement in both cerns about tooth color (92%) and bad breath (96%) were
samples from Portugal, the similarity between these scores among the most positively endorsed HUDBI items. In other
25
suggests that the military participants in the current study populations, the same items included careful brushing of
demonstrated notably positive results, highlighting relatively teeth, checking teeth after brushing, and concerns about bad
26
good oral health-related knowledge and attitudes among mil- breath. Therefore, the population in this study shows a
itary personnel compared to a Portuguese civilian population greater concern with items related to the aesthetic and social
specialized in oral health. aspects of oral health, which oral health professionals can use