Use and Perceived Benefits of Mouthwash among Malaysian Adults: An Exploratory Insight

Objectives: The purpose of the current research is to comprehend the use as well as the perception of mouthwash benefits among Malaysian adults in Selangor state, Malaysia.

Materials and Methods: Questionnaires were distributed following convenience sampling to 400 respondents in public places around Selangor over a period of 3 months. The questions were divided into 4 main categories which were demographics, behavior, knowledge, and perceived benefits. The data collected were entered into PASW version 20 and analyzed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Chi-square was used to compute the association between the variables.

Results: The majority of the respondents (n = 178, 44.5%) were between the ages of 18-25 years. Female respondents outnumbered males with 243 (60.8%) and 157 (39.3%), respectively. There was a high level of awareness among the respondents regarding the use of mouthwash where more than 57% answered the knowledge questions correctly. When asked for the reason for using a particular brand, respondents stated that their selection depends on it being "a family brand", affordability and taste. Respondents had a good perception on the use of mouthwash and its benefits.

Conclusion: The public needs to be educated on the role of mouthwash. Knowledge gaps on mouthwash need to be bridged to ascertain the beneficial nature of mouthwash. A mixed method research is recommended to gather more information on oral hygiene practices among Malaysian general population, particularly focusing on the use of mouthwash.