A cross-sectional assessment of oral health status and hygiene practices of the Turkish population following the 2023 Turkiye-Syria earthquakes

Abstract

Background Natural disasters such as earthquakes disrupt not only access to basic healthcare but also routine health behaviors. Despite its relevance to overall health, oral care is often neglected in postdisaster public health responses. This study investigated oral hygiene practices and access to dental care among individuals residing in temporary shelters following the 2023 Turkiye-Syria earthquakes. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 401 participants residing in a container city in Turkiye approximately 10 weeks postdisaster. The questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic variables, pre- and postdisaster oral hygiene practices, access to oral hygiene products, and the presence of orodental trauma related to the earthquake, while routine dental screenings were conducted to assess oral health status via the Decayed-Missing-Filled Teeth (DMF-T) index and the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S). Results Seventeen participants reported earthquake-related orodental trauma. While 32.4% of the participants regularly brushed their teeth before the earthquake, 92.3% reported disruption postdisaster. Toothbrush availability was 84.8%, yet interdental cleaning tool ownership remained below 2%. The mean DMFT score was 11.19 +/- 8.58; the mean OHI-S score was 3.22 +/- 1.40. Females and participants with toothbrush access had significantly better oral hygiene scores (p < 0.001). The number of remaining teeth was inversely associated with all other clinical indices (p < 0.001). Conclusion The earthquake significantly disrupted oral hygiene routines and limited access to oral care tools, particularly for those who previously maintained regular habits. These findings highlight the need for postdisaster oral health support and resource distribution to mitigate long-term public health consequences and suggest that emergency relief packages should also include provisions that help maintain oral hygiene practices following disasters.