The main objective of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitude, and use of mouthwash among senior high school students. 

• To determine how many of the respondents use mouthwash.

• To determine the factors leading to the use of mouthwash.

• To determine if they know the effects and appreciate the oral benefits of mouthwash use. 

The historical utilization of mouthwash can be traced back to 2700 BC, when it was first documented in Chinese medicine. Mouth cleansing became a fashionable practice among the aristocratic classes during the Roman era. Preferred formulations included a mixture of salt, alum, vinegar, and additional substances. Bad breath was a widespread concern during the 17th and 18th centuries; however, it was not openly discussed in social contexts. Nevertheless, during the 19th century, Joseph Lister developed Listerine, an antiseptic surgical agent that subsequently gained widespread acceptance as a mouthwash. The primary emphasis transitioned from poor breath prevention to gingivitis and periodontitis treatment in the 1960s, when antimicrobial mouthwashes were introduced. Plaque and gingivitis reduction through conventional oral hygiene practices alone was found to be insufficient [5] [12] [13] .

Saveanu surveyed 718 students for cross-sectional research and discovered that 421 of them (or 60% of the total population) utilized mouthwash [14] . 228 of these students rinsed their mouths with mouthwash after brushing, 139 used when necessary, 42 only in the morning, and 31 only in the evening. Furthermore, it was found that 240 students flossed their teeth after cleansing their teeth. The research underscored the necessity for educational initiatives that aim to enhance students’ understanding and dispositions regarding oral hygiene practices. This is due to the fact that knowledge and attitudes regarding these matters varied with educational attainment. 95% of dental students and 87.5% of medical students, according to another descriptive cross-sectional study by Wagaiyu and Simiyu [15] , recognized mouthwash as an agent for oral hygiene, antiseptic, and antiplaque. Nevertheless, the adoption of mouthwashes by students was limited to a minority: 16.3% of dental students and 12.5% of medical students reported using mouthwash. In contrast to medical students, dental students demonstrated a greater comprehension of mouthwashes, according to the study. According to the findings of a survey cited by Mitha [16] , 34.8% of participants indicated daily usage of mouthwash, whereas 31.0% used it less frequently than once per week. Ninety percent of respondents held the opinion that mouthwash is insufficient in lieu of the toothbrush. The respondents’ views on the necessity of mouthwash were divided, with fifty percent holding a positive stance and fifty percent holding a negative one.

Niveda and Jaiganesh conducted an assessment of the knowledge and prescription practices pertaining to mouthwashes among dental undergraduate and postgraduate students. A majority of the respondents (84.9%) advised their patients to use mouthwash to treat gingivitis, periodontitis, and halitosis, among other conditions. Listerine mouthwash was acknowledged by an almost 60% of the participants [17] , whereas betadine mouthwash was known to a mere 20.7% of the respondents.

A study conducted by Kaur and Sharma found that participants considered price when purchasing mouthwash, and factors such as brand, container size, and marketing also influenced their choices [18] . However, only a small number of people (26) purchased mouthwash based on their dentist’s prescription. In another study by Mitha, taste, affordability, and the brand being a “family brand” were cited as reasons for choosing a particular mouthwash [16] . Listerine was the most preferred brand (42%), followed by Colgate (28%) and Oral B (11.5%). Wagaiyu and Simiyu reported that only 36.7% of participants received mouthwash recommendations, while over half (63.3%) of students did [15] . The popular brands mentioned were Betadine, Listerine, Chlorhexidine, and Colgate. In terms of dental practitioners, Shrestha found that over 80% of them advised patients to use mouthwash twice a day [19] . Chlorhexidine and Listerine were the most recognized mouthwash brands among dental practitioners. Shabr conducted a cross-sectional study involving 1259 participants and found that females had greater knowledge of mouthwash and used it more frequently than males [20] . Females also reported learning about mouthwash from their dentists, suggesting they visited the dentist more frequently than males.

Mouthwash offers numerous benefits, particularly in addressing bad breath. Studies have shown that mouthwash contributes to mechanical cleaning, reduces biofilm accumulation, and decreases plaque buildup over time. Participants in the study conducted by Wagaiyu and Simiyu acknowledged that mouthwash can help prevent periodontitis, gingivitis, and dental caries [15] . The study by Mitha revealed that mouthwash was perceived to assist in reducing plaque, preventing periodontal and gum disease, eliminating bad breath, and preventing tooth decay [16] . Controlling plaque is essential in treating gingival inflammation, as highlighted in the study by Afennich [21] . Chemotherapeutic mouthwashes have been developed to take advantage of the antibacterial properties of certain compounds, with chlorhexidine being one of the most effective antiseptics in reducing plaque buildup and gingival irritation, as supported by Löe [22] . A meta-analysis conducted by DePaola demonstrated that essential oils, 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate, and cetylpyridinium chloride were effective in reducing gingivitis and supragingival plaque [23] . These findings further highlight the benefits of mouthwash in oral care routines.

While mouthwashes have gained importance in daily oral care routines due to their various indications, they are associated with certain side effects. The use of over-the-counter mouth rinses without medical supervision is common among patients according to Wilder [24] . In a study by Kaur and Sharma, it was found that 93% of participants in Ontario, Canada, purchased and used mouthwash without a prescription from their dentists, highlighting the widespread use without professional guidance [18] .

Children, in particular, may be at risk of swallowing mouthwash, leading to potential fluoride overdose and the development of fluorosis, characterized by enamel mottling and fractures in deciduous and permanent teeth [9] [25] . Additionally, the alcohol content in mouthwashes has been associated with certain risks, including acting as a carrier for carcinogens and increasing the risk of oral cancer [26] . Side effects experienced by users of mouthwashes include a burning sensation in the cheeks, teeth, and gums, particularly with alcohol-based mouthwashes [8] . Chlorhexidine, a commonly used mouthwash, can cause brown discolouration of teeth, tongue, and restorations, as well as changes in taste perception [5] [9] . These side effects can impact patient compliance and satisfaction.

The study was conducted in two selected schools in Kumasi, Ghana: Kumasi Wesley Girls’ School and Opoku Ware School. Kumasi Wesley Girls’ School, formerly known as Mmofraturo Girls’ Boarding School, was established in 1979 and has around 1700 students. Opoku Ware School, named after Asante King Opoku Ware I, was established in 1952 and has approximately 4000 students.

The research design adopted was a cross-sectional quantitative survey. This research was conducted within the period of June to August 2022.

A convenient sampling size of 160 students was selected. The sample size was calculated using https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/sample-size-calculator/ where the estimated population size was 5700, the percentage confidence level was 95% and the margin of error was 5%. However, due to limited financial resources and limited time to collect and analyze data only 120 out of the 160 students took part in the study. The sample size was distributed equally among the school with 60 students from each school. Simple random sampling was used to select participants within each school.

• Participants who are students of Opoku Ware School or Kumasi Wesley Girls’ School.

• Participants who gave their consent.

• Participants who are not students of Opoku Ware School or Kumasi Wesley Girls’ School.

• Participants who do not give their consent.

A self-designed structured questionnaire with 15 questions was developed with closed and open-ended questions to collect data. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire was tested through pilot testing and expert review. Translation was available any participants that encounter any problem due to literacy.

The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22.0 and MS Excel was used for data management, processing, analysis, and management of data. Data analysis was done through frequency generation, tables, pie-charts and bar-graphs.

Ethical clearance was obtained from the Committee on Human Research, Publications, and Ethics of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Informed consent was obtained from participants, and confidentiality and anonymity were ensured.

The gender distribution of participants was in a fifty-fifty ratio as the questionnaires were distributed to single-sex schools in an equal ratio. Most of them were between the ages of 15 (25.8%) and 16 (48.33%) years with the least being 18 (4.2%) and 20 (0.8%) years. This is not surprising as most of the participants were in SHS1 and SHS 2. The majority of the participants were Christians and Science students. The results were inconsistent with a study by Saveanu [14] revealing that the mean age was 14.6. Out of the 718 participants, 34.8% were males and 65.2% were females. 354 representing 49.4% were in Middle school and 50.6% were in high school.

In this category, the research question was aimed to find out how the participants maintained their oral hygiene. All the participants use a toothbrush and toothpaste as a means of maintaining good oral hygiene. This can be attributed to the prospectus given to students in the boarding school which include a toothbrush and toothpaste which was enforced by school authorities. The results from the study revealed that the majority of the participants (57%) brushed twice daily whilst the other 43% brushes their teeth only once a day. These results are consistent with Proper Tuosie Beni’s study (2009) in Ho reported that

59.9% brushed twice daily. The majority of the participants (n = 46, 76%) that brush twice daily were females. The results were similar to research conducted by Nordström revealed that 87% were girls and brushed twice daily compared to 67% representing boys who brushed only twice [27] . Beni (2009) also showed that 55.3% of females brushed twice compared to 44.7% of the males. This could be attributed to the fact that female students have a better approach to dental health issues than male students. These high figures show that there is a high level of awareness and practice of the conventional way of maintaining good oral hygiene.

According to the current study carried out, all the participants from the study have heard about mouthwash with the mass media playing a pivotal role. A greater percentage of the population (39%) has heard about the use of mouthwash from the mass media which is closely followed by parents (32%) and dentists (26%). Only 3% of the entire population heard about mouthwash from friends. When the participants were asked, which cleaning aids they use in addition to the conventional toothbrush and toothpaste, a majority of the participants representing 59.2% of the entire population use mouthwash. This was followed by Charcoal (7.5%), Dental Floss (5.8%), Sponge (2.5%), and Sticks (1.7%) in Table 2. The result findings from the study are in agreement with (Saveanu et al., 2022) which revealed that 60% of students practice the use of mouthwash in addition to the conventional way of maintaining their oral hygiene [14] . However, this finding is inconsistent with the study done in Chandigarh, India by Blaggana et al., (2016) which revealed that only 20% of Secondary School Students use mouthwash [28] .

In terms of frequency of use, most participants who use mouthwash practice it twice daily. When it comes to purchasing mouthwash, the majority obtain it from the pharmacy. The duration of keeping mouthwash in the mouth and the lingering taste after rinsing varied among participants. Among those who do not use mouthwash, reasons cited include not knowing its purpose and considering it expensive. A study conducted by (Shrestha et al., 2021) revealed that majority (69.3%) of the participants kept the mouthwash in their mouth for about 30 seconds. Majority of the participants (24.2%) and (25%) revealed that the taste of the mouthwash remained in the mouth after rinsing for less than 15minutes and from 16 to 30 minutes respectively after use. These results are similar to those by Shrestha et al. [19] . The results from the study also showed that 40.8% and 43% revealed that the taste of the mouthwash remained in the mouth after rinsing for less than 15minutes and from 16 to 30 minutes respectively after use in Table 7.

When the participants (40.8%) who do not practice the use of mouthwash were asked, why they did not practice the use of mouthwash, 18 of the participants said that they do not what it is used for and the other 21 said mouthwash is expensive. These results provide insights into the awareness, usage patterns, and perceptions of mouthwash among the study participants.

According to Mitha, participants primarily used mouthwash regularly to combat bad breath (33.8%) rather than to prevent oral diseases (30.5%) [16] . Only a small percentage (3.8%) replaced toothbrushing and toothpaste with mouthwash. In the present study, the majority of participants used mouthwash to fight bad breath (49%), followed by addressing periodontal disease (37%) and relieving sore throat (10%). Only 4% used mouthwash for teeth whitening. In terms of gender differences, Shabr found that females in Saudi Arabia were more knowledgeable about and frequent users of mouthwash compared to males [20] . Similarly, in the present study, a higher percentage of females (60.2%) practiced the use of mouthwash compared to males (39.8%). Regarding brand preferences, the majority of participants used Colgate mouthwash (52%), followed by Listerine (26%) and Kamaclox (14.2%). These findings may differ from other studies, such as the survey conducted by Shrestha [19] and the research by Kaur and Sharma [18] suggesting variations in brand availability across different geographic settings.

The majority of participants in the present study (65%) reported experiencing a burning sensation associated with the use of mouthwash. Although slightly lower, the findings align with the study by Shrestha who reported that 80% of participants diluted their mouthwash due to the burning sensation [19] . Regarding extrinsic stains, 80% of participants who used mouthwash in the present study answered “no” when asked if it caused such stains. This contrasts with the study by Shrestha [19] on dental practitioners in Chitwan, where 48.3% reported the occurrence of extrinsic stains. These differences could be attributed to variations in knowledge acquisition and the popularity of Chlorhexidine Gluconate as a brand in their study. Additionally, 99% of participants in the present study expressed satisfaction with the benefits and effects of mouthwash and would recommend its use to others, which aligns with the findings of Wagaiyu and Simiyu where 92% of medical and 87% of dental students would recommend mouthwash to their peers [15] .