[A study of oral health behaviors among 65 to 74 years old people in Shanxi province].

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the oral health behaviors among 65 to 74 years old people in Shanxi province, and provide a base line for oral health service. METHODS: Four hundred and five old people aged from 65 to 74 in Shaanxi province was selected according to the Third National Oral Health Investigation Criteria and the oral health behaviors of them were investigated by questionnaire. SPSS 13.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the participates, 14.3%, 6.6%, 39.5% of old people ate dessert, candy/chocolate, sugar-containing dairy products every day, and 27.5%, 17.0%, 0.7%, 0.5% drank fresh fruit, saccharine, fruit juice, carbonated drinks once daily, respectively. Compared with the rural areas,the proportion of people who drank fresh fruit or ate dessert, sugar-containing dairy products once daily was higher in the urban area (P<0.01). The proportion of people who significantly smoked cigarette, drank alcohol, or drank tea every day was 31.4%, 33.8% and 70.6%, respectively. Smoking and tea consumption were more prevalent in the urban area as well as in males(P<0.01). No difference was found between the prevalence of drinking alcohol in the urban and rural area(P>0.05), but more males drank alcohol than females(P<0.01). 55.8% of people brushed their teeth more than one time a day. Among the investigated people, about 80% never used the toothpick;only 0.7% of them used dental floss;About 30% of the investigated people used fluorine-contained toothpaste, more of them in the urban areas (P<0.01). Fluorine toothpaste usage was 29.1%, significant difference was found between in the urban and rural area (P<0.01), but no significant difference was noted between in males and females(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Oral health behaviors of 65 to 74 years old people in Shanxi province is irrationality, and needs to be adjusted and improved.