Oral Hygiene Behaviors, Periodontal Awareness, and Self-Reported Periodontal Symptoms Among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Objectives: The objective was to investigate associations among oral hygiene behaviors, periodontal awareness, and self-reported periodontal symptoms among adults using a cross-sectional questionnaire and an internally consistent awareness scoring system. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted between October 2025 and February 2026 among adults aged 18–65 years. Of 412 returned questionnaires, 386 complete and eligible forms were analyzed. The 42-item questionnaire assessed sociodemographic variables, oral-hygiene behavior, dental attendance, previous periodontal care, awareness of periodontal signs, and self-reported symptoms during the previous six months. Awareness was scored from 0 to 20. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t tests, one-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests, and multivariable logistic regression were used. Results: Mean age was 31.8 ± 9.6 years, and 58.0% of participants were women. Twice-daily toothbrushing was reported by 56.0%, and interdental cleaning by 38.6%. Mean awareness score was 12.7 ± 3.8. Awareness was higher among participants with university/postgraduate education, regular dental attendance, and interdental cleaning habits (all p < 0.001). Gingival bleeding was the most frequently reported symptom (47.4%). In the adjusted analysis, complaint-based dental attendance (OR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.46–4.03; p = 0.001), current smoking (OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.17–3.29; p = 0.011), and no interdental cleaning (OR = 2.08; 95% CI: 1.31–3.30; p = 0.002) were independently associated with reporting at least one periodontal symptom. Conclusions: Within the limits of this observational survey, preventive attendance and interdental cleaning were associated with higher awareness and lower self-reported symptom burden.