Dental caries, fluoride levels and oral hygiene practices of school children in Matebeleland South, Zimbabwe.

1386, 5-6-yr-old and 1326, 12-yr-old schoolchildren in the mainly rural province of Matebeleland South, in Zimbabwe, were examined for dental caries and interviewed about their oral hygiene practices. Fluoride contents of the drinking water source of the schools were determined and were found to be in the range 0.05-2.5 ppm. Among 5-6-yr-old children, 25.2% were affected with caries and the mean dmft score was 0.6 whereas 19.8% of the 12-yr-old children had caries, and the mean dmft score was 0.3. In both age groups low fluoride levels in drinking water (<0.8 ppm) were associated with higher prevalence of caries (5-6-yr-olds: OR 2.47; 12-yr-olds: OR 2.09). Chewing sticks were the most commonly applied oral hygiene practice. Children who reported using chewing sticks had fewer carious lesions than children who reported the use of toothbrush and toothpaste.