Predicting oral hygiene practices through health behavior, perceived stress and self-efficacy in undergraduate dental students of Pakistan: a national survey.

Background: Dental students face the rigorous demands of coursework, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and stress. These pressures can negatively influence self-efficacy and cause neglect in practicing healthy behaviors that encompass oral health. Identifying the associations of these variables with oral hygiene practices can help in the formulation of interventions tailored toward supporting young students.