Abstract: Background: Oral and general health status depends on a dynamic interplay of several factors, including the individual’s personal knowledge, attributes, behaviors, and perceptions. Oral health knowledge is considered to be an important prerequisite for health related behavior and as age increases, knowledge must also increases.
Aim: To assess the oral health knowledge, attitude, practices and self-perception of personal dental appearance among university female students.
Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study among university students enrolled in female Zulfi colleges of Majmaaha University, KSA in the academic year 2016-2017. Using self-structured questionnaire to evaluate oral health knowledge, attitude, practices and self-perception of personal dental appearance
Results: One fifth 20.9% know that regular dentist visit is necessary, one half 53.2% reported that tooth care is as important as care of any part of the body, 29.9% of them reported that dentist visit must be every 6 months, 36%of student was using brush and dental floss for tooth cleaning, only 42.4%was using brush twice/day, Half of the student either did not visit dentist or their last visit was since more than one year, finally only 20.9% of student reported regular visit to dentist. 19.8% reported being not afraid of dental instrument and procedure, and 69.1% reported either taking or sometimes taking sedative instead of going to dentist, 51.1% are satisfied with their tooth shape, 34.2% satisfied with tooth colour, 59.7% like their smile.
Conclusion: College female student knowledge, attitudes, and practices about oral hygiene was deficient in many aspects.
Recommendations: Oral health knowledge and education must be included in the early school life to build up good knowledge and practice by age.
