Conhecimento dos estudantes de odontologia em Maceió-AL quanto ao uso dos enxaguatórios bucais

Abstract

Introduction: Mouthwashes act as adjuvant agents in oral hygiene, however, their inappropriate use can pose risks, such as microbiota imbalance. From this perspective, academic training plays a crucial role in the rational use of these products. Objective: To assess the knowledge of Dentistry students from Maceió-AL regarding the use of mouthwashes throughout their undergraduate studies. Materials and methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional study, with a convenience sample. A total of 156 Dentistry students from three higher education institutions in Maceió-AL, enrolled in the 1st, 5th and 10th periods, in the first semester of 2025, participated in the study. An online questionnaire consisting of 18 objective questions was applied. The collected data were tabulated and organized in Microsoft Excel® spreadsheets for descriptive statistical analysis, with absolute and relative frequencies. Results: The use of mouthwashes was more frequent among students in the 1st period (71.43%), who demonstrated less knowledge and prioritized cosmetic use. Students in more advanced periods, due to the knowledge acquired throughout the undergraduate course, use them less (45.31% in the 5th and 48% in the 10th), but demonstrate greater understanding of the therapeutic action, risks and clinical applications. Chlorhexidine was the most cited active ingredient (57.1%), followed by sodium fluoride (41%) and alcohol (39.1%). The main reported indications were halitosis (63.5%), pre/postoperative care and gingivitis (60.3%) and dental biofilm control (56.4%). Conclusion: The results suggest an evolution in knowledge about the use of mouthwashes throughout the undergraduate course in Dentistry.