{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T04:24:37Z","timestamp":1790655877362,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]],"date-time":"2026-04-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776643200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>While much research is focused on assessing the knowledge and attitudes of periodontal patients and the general population, no study addressed the prevalence of periodontal misconceptions. Hence, the research aimed to assess misconceptions regarding periodontal diseases and their treatment among a diverse population of various nationalities.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The research adopted a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional approach, employing a 16-item, structured, closed-ended, validated questionnaire with perspective statements to evaluate periodontal misconceptions. The periodontal misconceptions assessment results were compared across age groups, genders, nationalities, and misconception categories.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Periodontal misconception assessment yielded an overall misconception ratio of 60.34% among 515 individuals of various ages, genders, nationalities, and educational backgrounds. The most prevalent misconception is that ageing leads to tooth loss (91.7%), then that periodontal diseases do not occur if oral hygiene is good (85.4%) and teeth must be brushed after every meal (85.3%). Other highly prevalent misconceptions are that periodontal treatment should not be performed during pregnancy (80.4%), and periodontal diseases can be treated solely through medication (75.7%). There was minimal misconception regarding the prevalence of periodontal diseases across all age groups, not confined to the elderly (20.7%). The mean misconception scores demonstrated no significant differences between age groups and genders. Decrease in misconceptions correlated with higher educational qualifications. Turks (16\u202f\u00b1\u202f0) demonstrated the most substantial periodontal misconceptions, followed by Yemenis (13\u202f\u00b1\u202f0.11), Europeans (12.13\u202f\u00b1\u202f2.13), Filipinos (12.11\u202f\u00b1\u202f3.69), and Bangladeshis (12.8\u202f\u00b1\u202f6.62). The British (5.54\u202f\u00b1\u202f2.46) exhibited the fewest misconceptions, followed by Australians (7\u202f\u00b1\u202f1.41) and Indians (7.99\u202f\u00b1\u202f3.85).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The prevalence of periodontal misconceptions is high among the general public, regardless of age and gender. There exists disparity among various educational groups and nationalities, with Turks exhibiting the highest level of misconceptions, followed by Yemenis, Europeans, Filipinos, and Bangladeshis. In contrast, the British showed fewer misconceptions, followed by Australians and Indians. Mapping these misconceptions across nationalities emphasises the need to launch culturally tailored public health campaigns to improve preventive practises, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance overall population well-being.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1695554","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]],"date-time":"2026-04-20T13:51:43Z","timestamp":1776693103000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Multinationality mapping of public misconceptions about periodontal diseases and their public health implications"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Adil Abdalrahman","family":"Abalkhail","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University","place":["Buraidah, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Muzammil Moin","family":"Ahmed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University","place":["Buraidah, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17038","DOI":"10.1038\/nrdp.2017.38","article-title":"Periodontal diseases","volume":"3","author":"Kinane","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nat Rev Dis Primers"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1135","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm8081135","article-title":"Periodontitis: a multifaceted disease of tooth-supporting tissues","volume":"8","author":"K\u00f6n\u00f6nen","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"ref3","volume-title":"Global Oral Health Status Report: Towards Universal Health Coverage for Oral Health by 2030","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1111\/jcpe.13290","article-title":"Treatment of stage I\u2013III periodontitis\u2014the EFP S3 level clinical practice guideline","volume":"47","author":"Sanz","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Clin Periodontol"},{"key":"ref5","first-page":"209","article-title":"Patients' views on periodontal disease; attitudes tooral health and expectancy of periodontal treatment: a qualitative interview study","volume":"6","author":"Abrahamsson","year":"2008","journal-title":"Oral Health Prev Dent"},{"key":"ref6","first-page":"1","article-title":"Psychosocial effects of periodontal disease on the quality of life of patients of the School of Dentistry (UdelaR) a qualitative-quantitative study","volume":"23","author":"Ariceta","year":"2021","journal-title":"Odontoestomatologia"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1789","DOI":"10.1016\/s0140-6736(18)32279-7","article-title":"Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017:a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2017","volume":"392","year":"2018","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref8","volume-title":"Oral Health","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S116-121","DOI":"10.4103\/2231-0762.189737","article-title":"Gaps in need, demand, and effective demand for dental care utilization among residents of Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India","volume":"6","author":"Pradeep","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Int Soc Prev Community Dent"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.4103\/jisp.jisp_254_16","article-title":"Influence of various factors on patient compliance after periodontal therapy: a pilot study","volume":"21","author":"Shah","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Indian Soc Periodontol"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3695","DOI":"10.4103\/jfmpc.jfmpc_773_19","article-title":"Perception, awareness, and practice among patients seeking orthodontic treatment toward maintenance of periodontal health and factors affecting the same among patients visiting dental clinics in Patna","volume":"8","author":"Sawai","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Family Med Prim Care"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S241","DOI":"10.4103\/jpbs.JPBS_700_20","article-title":"Oral health myths among general population at Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia","volume":"13","author":"Gowdar","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Pharm Bioallied Sci"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.2174\/1874210601913010171","article-title":"A narrative review of the prevalence of periodontitis in Saudi Arabia: a proposal for a national oral health research agenda for vision 2030","volume":"13","author":"Alshammari","year":"2019","journal-title":"Open Dent J"},{"key":"ref14","volume-title":"Sampling Techniques","author":"Cochran","year":"1977"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e33374","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.33374","article-title":"Clinical research: a review of study designs, hypotheses, errors, sampling types, ethics, and informed consent","volume":"15","author":"Purna Singh","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chest.2020.03.012","article-title":"Cross-sectional studies: strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations","volume":"158","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Chest"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.4103\/jioh.jioh_14_25","article-title":"Countering stigma, myths, and misconceptions surrounding periodontal health","volume":"17","author":"Shrivastava","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Int Oral Health"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1007\/s13224-023-01793-5","article-title":"Misconceptions regarding essential Oral health care amongst pregnant women visiting a tertiary Care Hospital in the State of Goa, India: a descriptive study","volume":"73","author":"Prabhudessai","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Obstet Gynaecol India"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"550","DOI":"10.1002\/cre2.309","article-title":"The relationship of aging, complete tooth loss, and having a dental visit in the last 12\u202fmonths","volume":"6","author":"Foiles Sifuentes","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin Exp Dent Res"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1007\/s40520-025-03110-8","article-title":"Epidemiology of oral health in older adults aged 65 or over: prevalence, risk factors and prevention","volume":"37","author":"Huang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Aging Clin Exp Res"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sdj.2014.11.002","article-title":"Factors contributing to tooth loss among the elderly: a cross sectional study","volume":"35","author":"Natto","year":"2014","journal-title":"Singap Dent J"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.3390\/dj11090222","article-title":"Diet, nutrition, and Oral health in older adults: a review of the literature","volume":"11","author":"Chan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Dent J (Basel)"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"372","DOI":"10.3390\/jpm12030372","article-title":"Oral health among elderly, impact on life quality, access of elderly patients to Oral health services and methods to improve Oral health: a narrative review","volume":"12","author":"Janto","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Pers Med"},{"key":"ref24","volume-title":"The Oral Health of Older Americans. Aging Trends; No. 3","author":"Vargas","year":"2001"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"210","DOI":"10.1111\/prd.12371","article-title":"Polymicrobial communities in periodontal disease: their quasi-organismal nature and dialogue with the host","volume":"86","author":"Hajishengallis","year":"2021","journal-title":"Periodontol"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1111\/prd.12447","article-title":"Risk factors for periodontitis & peri-implantitis","volume":"90","author":"Darby","year":"2022","journal-title":"Periodontol"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.1111\/prd.12232","article-title":"Genetics of periodontitis: discovery, biology, and clinical impact","volume":"78","author":"Schaefer","year":"2018","journal-title":"Periodontol"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"426","DOI":"10.1038\/s41577-020-00488-6","article-title":"Local and systemic mechanisms linking periodontal disease and inflammatory comorbidities","volume":"21","author":"Hajishengallis","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nat Rev Immunol"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S77","DOI":"10.1111\/jcpe.12359","article-title":"Efficacy of homecare regimens for mechanical plaque removal in managing gingivitis a meta review","volume":"42","author":"der Van Weijden","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Clin Periodontol"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0757.2012.00457.x","article-title":"Risk factors for periodontal disease","volume":"62","author":"Genco","year":"2013","journal-title":"Periodontol"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1503","DOI":"10.1902\/jop.2008.080239","article-title":"Inflammation and factors that may regulate inflammatory response","volume":"79","author":"Van Dyke","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Periodontol"},{"key":"ref32","first-page":"135","article-title":"Tooth brushing and oral health: how frequently and when should tooth brushing be performed?","volume":"3","author":"Attin","year":"2005","journal-title":"Oral Health Prev Dent"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1111\/scd.12670","article-title":"High frequency and long duration of toothbrushing can potentially reduce the risk of common systemic diseases in late adolescence","volume":"42","author":"Abe","year":"2022","journal-title":"Spec Care Dentist"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"526","DOI":"10.1016\/j.identj.2023.10.018","article-title":"Development of tooth brushing recommendations through professional consensus","volume":"74","author":"Glenny","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int Dent J"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"764","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph22050764","article-title":"Toothbrushing frequency in Saudi Arabia: associations with sociodemographic, oral health access, general health, and diet","volume":"22","author":"Abogazalah","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"420","DOI":"10.25122\/jml-2019-0095","article-title":"Oral health knowledge, attitude, and practice of pregnant women in Deccan, South India: a cross-sectional prenatal survey","volume":"15","author":"Javali","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Med Life"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.4103\/0019-557X.114992","article-title":"Awareness of the association between periodontal disease and pre-term births among general dentists, general medical practitioners and gynaecologists","volume":"57","author":"Tarannum","year":"2013","journal-title":"Indian J Public Health"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"469","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-020-02646-3","article-title":"A polymicrobial biofilm model for testing the antimicrobial potential of a nisin-biogel for canine periodontal disease control","volume":"16","author":"Cunha","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Vet Res"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2084","DOI":"10.2174\/1381612822666161124154549","article-title":"Biofilm-mediated antibiotic-resistant Oral bacterial infections: mechanism and combat strategies","volume":"23","author":"Kanwar","year":"2017","journal-title":"Curr Pharm Des"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"850674","DOI":"10.1155\/2014\/850674","article-title":"Common periodontal diseases of children and adolescents","volume":"2014","author":"Al-Ghutaimel","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int J Dent"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.2147\/CCIDE.S379171","article-title":"Gender differences in oral health knowledge and practices among adults in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia","volume":"14","author":"Rajeh","year":"2022","journal-title":"Clin Cosmet Investig Dent"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.3290\/j.ohpd.c_1812","article-title":"Predictors of dental misconceptions among Taif population, Saudi Arabia","volume":"23","author":"Al Harthi","year":"2025","journal-title":"Oral Health Prev Dent"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"462","DOI":"10.1159\/000073401","article-title":"Ten-year incidence of tooth loss and dental caries in elderly Swedish individuals","volume":"37","author":"Fure","year":"2003","journal-title":"Caries Res"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0243526","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0243526","article-title":"Predictors of misconceptions, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of Saudi population","volume":"15","author":"Baig","year":"2020","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2458-12-80","article-title":"Consortium health literacy project European. Health literacy and public health: a systematic review and integration of definitions and models","volume":"12","author":"S\u00f8rensen","year":"2012","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2072","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2008.09.050","article-title":"The evolving concept of health literacy","volume":"67","author":"Nutbeam","year":"2008","journal-title":"Soc Sci Med"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3781","DOI":"10.1111\/jan.16283","article-title":"The influence of culture on the health beliefs and health behaviours of older Vietnam-born Australians living with chronic disease","volume":"80","author":"Nguyen","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Adv Nurs"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1085","DOI":"10.1007\/s10552-021-01457-7","article-title":"Using the health belief model to assess racial\/ethnic disparities in cancer-related behaviors in an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center catchment area","volume":"32","author":"Otto","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cancer Causes Control"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"289","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0528.2012.00680.x","article-title":"Integrating the common risk factor approach into a social determinants framework","volume":"40","author":"Watt","year":"2012","journal-title":"Community Dent Oral Epidemiol"},{"key":"ref50","volume-title":"National Oral Health Plan 2015\u20132024: Performance Monitoring Report","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1002\/j.0022-0337.2004.68.7_suppl.tb03813.x","article-title":"Challenges to the oral health workforce in India","volume":"68","author":"Tandon","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Dent Educ"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1695554\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]],"date-time":"2026-04-20T13:51:46Z","timestamp":1776693106000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1695554\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]]},"references-count":51,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1695554"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1695554","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]]},"article-number":"1695554"}}