There is relatively little information about the dental health of Libyan children, so this study was initiated to assess the level of oral hygiene and the gingival and periodontal status in children living in urban and rural parts of Libya. Two thousands and fifteen children aged 7-16 years were examined during 1987 using World Health Organization criteria. The oral hygiene was found to be good (mean oral hygiene index = 0.12); boys demonstrated significantly worse oral hygiene than girls (P less than 0.001). Overall, gingival inflammation was categorised as mild (mean gingival index = 0.05). Boys had more gingivitis than girls (P less than 0.001). Periodontal pockets of more than 3.5 mm were found in 4.1 per cent of 15-16-year-old children.