Assessment of the Predictors of Oral Hygiene Habits among Schoolchildren in Benin City, Edo State.

Oral diseases are widespread across all age groups and are closely influenced by individual oral hygiene practices, with childhood representing a critical period for habit formation. This study assessed predictors of oral hygiene habits among schoolchildren in Benin City, Edo State. Using a multistage sampling technique, 424 pupils from public and private schools were surveyed with a researcher-administered questionnaire, and data were analysed using descriptive and non-parametric inferential statistics, including multinomial logistic regression. The findings showed that most respondents exhibited fair oral hygiene habits (68.8%), while 19.3% had poor habits and only 11.8% demonstrated good practices. A substantial majority (73.6%) had never accessed dental services, with mothers playing a key role in influencing oral hygiene behaviours. Oral hygiene habits were significantly associated with age, gender, school type and location, parental education, and household characteristics, whereas birth rank and family size were not. Gender, age, and school location predicted fair oral hygiene habits, while parental education, school type and location, and family structure predicted good habits. Overall, the study highlights widespread fair oral hygiene practices alongside low dental service utilisation and recommends strengthening dental workforce capacity, expanding school-based interventions, and intensifying mass media campaigns to promote better oral health behaviours among children.