Oral Candidiasis Association with Dental Hygiene in Population of Islamabad - A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence and frequency of oral Candida species in dental patients in regions of Islamabad, Pakistan by isolating and diagnosing the distinct species of Candida from oral samples of people visiting dental clinics in different areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Also to Bridge the epidemiological gap present between oral candidiasis association with dental hygiene conditions in Pakistan

Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in the department of biosciences COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan from August 2024 to October 2024. The samples were cultivated on HiCrome differential agar and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) to identify the species. Surveys and manual records were used to collect the data, which was then analyzed using SPSS and MS Excel. Significant correlations between oral candidiasis and lifestyle or demographic characteristics were found using statistical studies, such as chi-square tests, with a significance threshold of p<0.05.

Results: Candida spp. colonization rates are 40–60% in healthy individuals, but 62–93% in immunocompromised patients, including those with HIV. The results indicated C. albicans as the most prevalent species (54%), followed by C. krusei (14%), C. tropicalis (11%), and C. glabrata (7%). The infection was most common in young adults (ages 21–30; 70%), married individuals (71%), and men (60.71%). Smoking and poor oral hygiene were significant risk factors, with a higher species diversity observed among smokers and 68% prevalence among non-mouthwash users.

Conclusion: The study emphasizes how risk variables like age, gender, lifestyle, and cleanliness habits are strongly linked to oral candidiasis. These results highlight the necessity of focused public health campaigns to raise awareness, encourage good oral hygiene, and address modifiable risk factors in order to lessen the prevalence of oral candidiasis in the general population.

Keywords:  Candida spp., oral hygiene, non-albicans, denture infection