Awareness, Knowledge and Perception of Oral Habits and Habit-breaking Appliances amongst Pregnant Mothers Attending Antenatal Clinic, Federal Medical Centre, Gusau: A Questionnaire-based Survey

Abstract Background: Oral habits are considered pernicious when they are not considered normal and pose a potential risk to the overall quality of life of an individual. They have long-term complications such as malocclusion. Mothers play a significant role in the upbringing of their children, and as such, they can help intercept some of those habits at an early stage if they know the appropriate action to take. This study aims to assess the level of awareness, knowledge and perception of oral habits and habit-breaking appliances amongst pregnant mothers attending the antenatal clinic, Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, Zamfara State. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study amongst pregnant mothers attending the antenatal clinic of the FMC Gusau. Data were obtained using a self-administered, structured questionnaire and analysed using the SPSS software version 25.0. P