The connection between oral health and overall health cannot be ignored. Disparities in oral health status can be determined by socioeconomic, cultural, and educational factors¹. Various lifestyle choices such as unhealthy eating, inadequate personal hygiene, insufficient sanitation, meager exposure to fluorides, and tobacco/alcohol dependence can have deleterious effects on one’s oral health. Bad oral and dental health can significantly impact the quality of life and self-esteem of an individual².

For over 70 years, the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index has been globally used as the most important measure for assessing the status of oral and dental health³. It determines the number of decayed teeth, the number of treated teeth, and the number of teeth missed due to decay. DMFT can be used to evaluate and monitor community oral health policies and interventions.

Oral health literacy (OHL), “the degree to which individuals can obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate oral health decisions” has played a prominent role in promoting oral/dental health⁴. Based on the OHL level, higher health literacy skills help patients communicate better with healthcare workers, manage their medications & appointments, and have a good prognosis. Health literateness has also been considered a factor determining a person’s capability to stay healthy, recover from illness and improve quality of life. Low health literacy may have negative psychological effects^{3, 4}.