Hábitos de higiene oral. Resultados de un estudio poblacional / Oral hygiene habits. Results of a population-based study

Las patologías orales, además de muy prevalentes, tienen un impacto sistémico que puede prevenirse eliminando regularmente el biofilm dental. Este estudio transversal de base poblacional analizó los hábitos de higiene oral referidos por 3.289 adultos mediante encuestas comunitarias en las cuatro capitales de Galicia entre marzo de 2015 y junio de 2016. Se registró sexo, nivel de alerta periodontal, nivel de estudios, hábito tabáquico, régimen de visitas odontológicas y nivel de higiene oral según el uso de elementos de higiene oral y su frecuencia de uso. La higiene oral se limitó al cepillado dental al menos una vez al día en el 86% de los encuestados, siendo minoritaria la higiene interdental regular. Las variables asociadas a buenos hábitos fueron la alerta periodontal, las visitas odontológicas frecuentes, ser mujer, y alto nivel educativo. Los autocuidados orales son inadecuados, especialmente en higiene interdental, lo que justifica la necesidad de intervenciones educativas de ámbito comunitario

Oral pathologies, in addition to being highly prevalent, have a systemic impact that can be prevented by regularly eliminating the dental biofilm. This population-based, cross-sectional study analysed the oral hygiene habits of 3,289 adults through community surveys in the four provincial capitals of Galicia between March 2015 and June 2016. Sex, level of periodontal awareness, education, tobacco habit, frequency of visits to the dentist and level of oral hygiene were registered according to the use of oral hygiene products and the frequency of their use. Oral hygiene was limited to brushing their teeth once a day in 86% of those surveyed, while regular interdental hygiene was a minority practice. The variables associated with good habits were periodontal awareness, frequent visits to the dentist, being a woman and a high educational level. Oral self-care is insufficient, especially in interdental hygiene, which justifies the need for educational interventions in the community

Effect of environmental and socioeconomic factors on the use of dental floss among children: a hierarchical approach.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of environmental and socioeconomic characteristics with the use of dental floss in preschool children. This cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 402 preschool children aged 1-5 years, from Santa Cruz do Sul, a Southern city in Brazil. Mothers answered questions about environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics. Behavior variables as use of dental floss (study outcome) and dental attendance were also evaluated. Poisson regression analysis with robust variance through a hierarchical approach was used to investigate the association of explanatory variables for use of dental floss. Prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated. The mean sample age was 3.32 years (standard deviation [SD] 1.10). Of the included children, 291 (73.12%) did not use dental floss. The environmental model indicated that children who attended daycare (PR 2.53; 95%CI 1.39-4.60) and those whose parents were members of volunteer networks (RP 1.58; 95%CI 1.02-2.46) were more likely to use dental floss. Children from families with higher income (PR 1.55; 95%CI 1.07-2.24) and maternal schooling (PR 2.21; 95%CI 1.31-3.74) presented a higher prevalence of dental floss use. Older children and those who attended dental services were also related to higher dental floss use. Our findings suggest that children who live in a supporting environment and those with a higher socioeconomic status are more likely to use dental floss.

Effect of environmental and socioeconomic factors on the use of dental floss among children: a hierarchical approach

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of environmental and socioeconomic characteristics with the use of dental floss in preschool children. This cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 402 preschool children aged 1-5 years, from Santa Cruz do Sul, a Southern city in Brazil. Mothers answered questions about environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics. Behavior variables as use of dental floss (study outcome) and dental attendance were also evaluated. Poisson regression analysis with robust variance through a hierarchical approach was used to investigate the association of explanatory variables for use of dental floss. Prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated. The mean sample age was 3.32 years (standard deviation [SD] 1.10). Of the included children, 291 (73.12%) did not use dental floss. The environmental model indicated that children who attended daycare (PR 2.53; 95%CI 1.39-4.60) and those whose parents were members of volunteer networks (RP 1.58; 95%CI 1.02-2.46) were more likely to use dental floss. Children from families with higher income (PR 1.55; 95%CI 1.07-2.24) and maternal schooling (PR 2.21; 95%CI 1.31-3.74) presented a higher prevalence of dental floss use. Older children and those who attended dental services were also related to higher dental floss use. Our findings suggest that children who live in a supporting environment and those with a higher socioeconomic status are more likely to use dental floss.

Self-reported oral status and habits related to oral care in adult Poles: A questionnaire study.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial plaque control plays a key role in the prevention of caries and periodontal diseases. Hygiene negligence in this respect may influence the state of gingiva, and - in the long term - the number of lost teeth. The recommended method of mechanical control of dental plaque is tooth brushing twice a day. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of tooth brushing, the use of various oral hygiene accessories, the number of preserved teeth, and the occurrence of gingival bleeding in adult Poles, based on a questionnaire study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prepared questionnaire consisted of a general part, assessing the socioeconomic and general medical status of respondents, as well as of specific questions about behavioral actions related to oral hygiene. The study was conducted in 10 Polish cities in Mobile Medical Units as part of the "Health First" campaign in 2017. RESULTS: The study included 713 respondents: 447 females and 264 males at an average age of 51.1 ±17.6 years. During the previous 6 months, 448 females and 265 males had visited the dentist. The average number of teeth among the respondents aged 35-44 years was 27, and for subjects >65 years old -13. There were statistically significant differences in the frequency of tooth brushing depending on sex and place of residence. The respondents used manual soft and medium toothbrushes more often than electric brushes (p < 0.05). Inhabitants of larger cities, compared to rural residents, used dental floss and toothpicks more frequently (p < 0.05). In total, 271 (50%) of the respondents reported gingival bleeding during tooth brushing. There was a statistically significant association of gingival bleeding with genetic load, and with the use of a manual soft toothbrush and mouthwash. CONCLUSIONS: Pro-health behaviors of adult Poles in maintaining optimal oral hygiene are unsatisfactory and need improvement.

O uso do fio dental reduz a ocorrência de sangramento gengival? / Does dental flossing reduce the occurrence of gingival bleeding?

Objetivos: tendo em vista a relevância da prevenção à gengivite, e consequentemente à periodontite, e a falta de consenso na literatura sobre a efetividade do fio dental como medida protetora ao sangramento gengival, este artigo buscou revisar a literatura objetivando responder a seguinte pergunta: "O uso do fio dental é efetivo para prevenir o sangramento gengival?". Material e métodos: revisões sistemáticas foram buscadas na base de dados Pubmed, sem limite de data e de linguagem. Resultados: duas revisões foram encontradas, e seus resultados foram sumarizados. Conclusão: a literatura científica sugere que o uso do fio dental associado à escovação é adequado para o controle do biofilme, e consequentemente, do sangramento gengival. Entretanto, essa evidência apresenta inúmeras limitações, e seus resultados precisam ser confirmados. Assim, são necessários mais estudos que demonstrem claramente o efeito do fio dental sobre o sangramento gengival.

Objectives: given the relevance of gingivitis prevention, and consequently periodontitis, and the lack of consensus in the literature on the effectiveness of dental floss as a protective measure of gingival bleeding, this article aimed to revise the literature in order to answer the following question: Is flossing effective in preventing gum bleeding? Material and methods: systematic reviews were searched on Pubmed database, with no limits for date and language. Results: two reviews were found, and their results were summarized. Conclusion: the scientific literature suggests that flossing associated with brushing is adequate for biofilm control, and consequently, for preventing gingival bleeding. However, this evidence has relevant limitations, therefore, these results need to be carefully considered. Thus, further studies are needed to clearly demonstrate the effect of dental floss on prevention of gingival bleeding.

Randomized controlled trial on mouth rinse and flossing efficacy on interproximal gingivitis and dental plaque.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of an essential oils mouth rinse and dental floss on dental plaque accumulation and gingivitis in interproximal areas. METHODS: With informed consent, a parallel randomized controlled clinical trial was developed with 60 third-year dental hygiene students, randomly divided into two non-blind groups of 30 individuals each. For a period of 2 weeks, one group used an essential oils mouth rinse, according to manufacturer's instructions, and the other group flossed twice a day. Both groups received a toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste for home dental hygiene care. A baseline dental hygiene appointment consisted of tooth scaling, prophylaxis and collection of the study data, using the Lobene modified gingival index; Saxton & Ouderaa gingival bleeding index and the Quigley & Hein modified by Turesky dental plaque index. RESULTS: At baseline, there was no significant difference between the groups for interproximal gingival inflammation (P = .214), gingival bleeding (P = .829) and dental plaque accumulation (P = .860). After 2 weeks of treatment, no significant differences were found between the essential oils mouth rinse and dental flossing for reduction of interproximal gingival inflammation (P = .938) and bleeding (P = .307). Essential oils mouth rinse showed to be significantly better than dental flossing in reducing interproximal dental plaque accumulation (P = .006). CONCLUSION: The use of an essential oils mouth rinse may be advised, as a complement, for patients unable to floss effectively, as it is more effective in reducing interproximal dental plaque accumulation than dental floss.

Prevalence of and factors associated with fewer than 20 remaining teeth in Taiwanese adults with disabilities: a community-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence of and the factors associated with a number of remaining teeth (NRT) <20 among adults with disabilities. DESIGN: A community-based, cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING: This study was part of a health promotion programme designed for community-dwelling adults with disabilities. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 549 adults with disabilities, aged 20-80 years, living in the community in Chiayi County in Taiwan. OUTCOME MEASURES: Various parameters, including NRT, oral health behaviours (ie, oral hygiene, dietary habits and substance use), comorbidities, disability classification and capability for performing activities of daily living, were measured. Data were statistically analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean NRT was 18.1 (SD=10.9); 44.8% of participants had NRT <20 (including 13.7% edentulous participants). Most participants had poor oral hygiene: 83.4% reported seldom using dental floss, 78% did not undergo regular 6-monthly dental check-ups and 77.4% seldom brushed their teeth after meal. After adjusting for potentially confounding variables, the intellectual disability group had a significantly higher risk of an NRT <20 than the physical disability group (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.30 to 4.08). Additionally, the rare use of dental floss and hypertension significantly increased the possibility of an NRT <20 (OR 1.73-2.12, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.71). CONCLUSIONS: An NRT <20 and edentulism were highly prevalent among adults with disabilities, who displayed poor oral hygiene behaviours. Adults with intellectual disabilities had a greater likelihood of having an NRT <20 than did those with physical disability. In addition to unmodifiable factors, the poor use of dental floss was significantly associated with an NRT <20.

Association of flossing/inter-dental cleaning and periodontitis in adults.

AIM: Assess the association of flossing with periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) years 2011-2014. We used three categories of flossing: 0-1, 2-4 and ≥5 days in the past week and the CDC definition of periodontitis. We calculated odds ratios controlling for age, gender, smoking, drinking, income and dentist visits. RESULTS: A total of 6939 adult subjects were included, 35% flossed ≤1 time a week, and 40% had periodontitis. After adjustment, the odds of periodontitis were 17% lower for subjects who flossed >1 time a week than for subjects who flossed less often (odds ratio=0.83, 95% CI 0.72-0.97). A dose response was not observed. Men were twice as likely as women to have periodontitis. Younger subjects, non-smokers and subjects with the highest incomes had lower odds of having periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS: Flossing was associated with a modestly lower prevalence of periodontitis. Older age, being male, smoking, low income and less frequent dental visits were associated with a higher prevalence of periodontitis. Flossing 2-4 days a week could be as beneficial as flossing more frequently. This is a cross-sectional study so a causal relation between flossing and periodontitis cannot be established.

An application of the Health Action Process Approach model to oral hygiene behaviour and dental plaque in adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances.

BACKGROUND: The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model addresses health behaviours, but it has never been applied to model adolescents' oral hygiene behaviour during fixed orthodontic treatment. AIM: This study aimed to apply the HAPA model to explain adolescents' oral hygiene behaviour and dental plaque during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 116 adolescents with fixed appliances from an orthodontic clinic situated in Almere (the Netherlands) completed a questionnaire assessing oral health behaviours and the psychosocial factors of the HAPA model. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine the factors associated with dental plaque, toothbrushing, and the use of a proxy brush. RESULTS: Stepwise regression analysis showed that lower amounts of plaque were significantly associated with higher frequency of the use of a proxy brush (R2 = 45%), higher intention of the use of a proxy brush (R2 = 5%), female gender (R2 = 2%), and older age (R2 = 2%). The multiple regression analyses revealed that higher action self-efficacy, intention, maintenance self-efficacy, and a higher education were significantly associated with the use of a proxy brush (R2 = 45%). CONCLUSION: Decreased levels of dental plaque are mainly associated with increased use of a proxy brush that is subsequently associated with a higher intention and self-efficacy to use the proxy brush.

Why do children and adolescents neglect dental flossing?

AIM: To identify the variables and actual difficulties related to children and adolescents' non-compliance with dental flossing. METHODS: This cross-sectional study with 36 children and 59 adolescents were selected from dental clinics at the Dental School, University of São Paulo. The percentage of surfaces with disclosed biofilm was used to evaluate general oral hygiene. Participants answered questions concerning dental flossing (difficulties, self-reported motivation, and previous instruction). An examiner observed how the participants flossed their teeth and their possible faults. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed and odds ratio values were calculated in order to verify the association between non-compliance (or difficulties) with flossing and possible reasons for that. RESULTS: Similar non-compliance with daily flossing was observed among children and adolescents (p = 0.95). Children's flossing negligence was strongly associated with self-reported laziness in flossing (p = 0.02), and negatively associated with their previous practice by some dentists (p = 0.009). Self-described difficulties in flossing also showed an association with laziness in flossing (p = 0.03). No association was found between negligence of flossing and all variables tested among adolescents (p ≥ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Low compliance and difficulties in flossing among children and adolescents seemed to be more related to lack of motivation, although problems concerning manual skills were also observed.

Dental flossing behaviour and its determinants among students in a suburb area of Tehran-Iran: using Transtheoretical Model.

OBJECTIVES: Oral health problems are a global concern particularly among underprivileged groups. This study aimed to use TTM model to assess the flossing behaviour and its determinants among students in a suburb area and compare the flossing behaviour between boys and girls using TTM. METHODS: Cluster sampling was employed to recruit 653 high school students from eight schools in Tehran suburban area, Iran. Two self-administrated questionnaires: (i) stage of change questionnaire and (ii) TTM constructs questionnaire including demographic features, decisional balance (perceived benefits and barriers), self-efficacy and process of change were used to assess the flossing behaviour and its psychological determinants. The statistical analysis of the data included Kruskal-Wallis test, t-test, anova, Spearman correlation and binary logistic regression using SPSS ver15 software. RESULTS: In this study, 301 (46.1%) and 352 (53.9%) of participants were women and men, respectively. Nearly half of the students (51.4%) were in precontemplation stage with the rest distributed among the other stages of flossing behaviour change. There was no statistically significant difference between genders regarding the stages of change (P < 0.05). Flossing behaviour is related to TTM constructs such as self-efficacy, perceived benefits, low perceived barriers and process of changes. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, TTM is useful in determining the stages of interdental cleaning behaviour among students. However, further interventional researches are suggested to support the potential for eventual use of the TTM as a framework for understanding the determinants of interdental cleaning behaviour.

Dental anxiety, concomitant factors and change in prevalence over 50 years.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the prevalence of Dental Anxiety (DA) in the general adult population of Sweden, to study concomitant factors of DA and also to compare the prevalence of DA in 1962 with that in 2013. METHOD: The national study for 2013 included 3,500 individuals, randomly selected from the Swedish population. The data sampling was performed as a telephone survey including 38 questions and this report is a selection of those questions with the focus on DA. The national study from 1962 was a face-to-face survey of 1,331 individuals randomly selected from the Swedish population. Both surveys were conducted by the same company. RESULTS: In 2013, severe DA was reported in 4.7%, moderate DA in 4.5%, low DA in 9.8% and no DA in 80.9% of the subjects. Most (72.9%) of the subjects who reported severe DA attended dental care regularly. Important predictive factors of DA were age, gender, education, and self-rated poor oral and general health. The analysis showed a decrease in the prevalence of DA between 1962 and 2013, specifically a change towards more individuals reporting no dental anxiety (38.5% vs. 80.9%) but also smaller proportions of individuals having low and high DA (46.4% vs 9.8% and 15.1% vs 9.2%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In this national representative sample of Swedish adults the prevalence of severe DA was 4.7%. The main finding revealed a significant decrease of the prevalence of DA over 50 years.

Levantamento transversal da relação do índice de placa com o grau de escolaridade, idade e frequência do uso do fio dental e escova em pacientes de 31 a 69 anos de idade / The relationship of plaque index, educational degree, age, and frequency of dental fl oss in patients from 31 to 69 years-old ­ a cross-sectional study

Objetivo: estudar o índice de placa e a sua correlação com a técnica de higiene empregada, com o grau de escolaridade, idade, frequência e o conhecimento sobre a higiene oral. Material e métodos: em uma amostra da população da cidadede Divinópolis/MG, foi aplicado um questionário específico sobre os hábitos de higiene oral. O exame clínico foi realizado com sonda milimetrada, e a placa evidenciada pelo corante. Todos os pacientes foram divididos em quatro faixas etárias e receberam reforço na higiene oral. As possíveis associações entre os critérios foram investigadas com o teste Qui-quadrado. Resultados: 216 pacientes (86 homens, 130 mulheres) foram incluídos. No total, 5.853 dentes e 23.412 faces foram analisados. O nível de placa variou de 54,29% (60-69 anos) a 60,10% (40-49 anos), e as faces interproximais foram as mais coradas (83,27%). Um total de 140 pacientes não tinha realizado tratamento periodontal prévio; dos 76 pacientes com tratamento prévio, 34 não haviam sido instruídos sobre a higiene oral. Metade dos pacientes relatou usar a escova dental três vezes ao dia; 1/3 dos pacientes usavam o fio dental duas vezes e estavam no ensino médio. Conclusão: 1) há necessidade de uma campanha maciça sobre a importância da escova dental e do fio dental, e como usá-los; 2) os menores índices de placa estão nos indivíduos de grau superior; 3) as faces proximais coradas confirmam a falta de uso do fio dental, principalmente nos pacientes que foram submetidos ao tratamento periodontal, por ausência de informação profissional.

Objective: to study the plaque index and possible correlations with oral hygiene, educational levels, age, and frequency of dental flossing. Material and methods: a patient sample from Divinopolis/MG received an appropriate questionnaire survey regarding their oral hygiene habits. The clinical exam was made with a periodontal probe and a disclosing agent. All patients were divided according to 4 age conditions and receive further oral instructions. Possible associations were investigated with the Chi-square method. Results: 216 patients (86 men, 130 women) were included. Overall, 5,852 teeth and 23,412 surfaces were examined. Plaque levels varied from 54.29% (60-69 years) to 60.10% (40-49 years), being most prevalent at the proximal surfaces (83.27%). 140 patients did not have previous periodontal treatment; from 76 patients under active periodontal treatment, 34 had no oral hygiene instructions. Half of the patients reported the use of toothbrushing 3 times a day; 1/3 of patients reported flossing twice a day. Conclusion: 1) a massive campaign is needed to underscore the importance of oral hygiene and dental floss, 2) the lowest plaque scores were observed in people with higher education, 3) the proximal surfaces confirmed the lack of dental floss, particularly in patients under periodontal treatment due to the lack of professional information.

Factors affecting patients' adherence to orthodontic appointments.

INTRODUCTION: Studies show that attendance at orthodontic appointments affects treatment outcomes, treatment duration, and the probability of side effects. The aim of this study was to predict factors that influence patients' attendance at orthodontic appointments. METHODS: We conducted a face-to-face guided interview survey of 153 participants from orthodontic clinics in the Greater Boston area. Attendance at scheduled orthodontic appointments was self-reported as always, sometimes, or rarely. Participants' characteristics, including demographics, dental insurance, and oral hygiene practices, were self-reported. Moreover, from dental records, we collected the time that the participants spent undergoing active orthodontic treatment. Multivariable ordered logistic regression was used to report proportional odds ratios and attendance probabilities. A likelihood ratio test was performed to ensure that the proportional odds assumption held. RESULTS: For overall appointment attendance, 76% of the participants reported always attending, 16% reported sometimes attending, and 8% reported rarely attending. Based on multivariable logistic regression (adjusted for age, race, and sex), the participants with optimal oral hygiene practices were almost 6 times (5.9) more likely to attend appointments than those who did not (P = 0.002). The odds of attending appointments decreased significantly (by 23%) for every 6-month increase in treatment duration (P = 0.008). Participants covered by non-Medicaid insurance were 4 times (P = 0.018) more likely to attend appointments than were those with Medicaid insurance. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that adherence to orthodontic treatment follow-up visits was strongly correlated to insurance type, treatment duration, and oral hygiene practices. Unlike previous studies, sex was not a significant predictor of adherence.

Use of dental clinics and oral hygiene practices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2013.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a large household survey in 2013 to determine the current status of oral health practices and use of oral health services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS: The Saudi Health Information Survey is a national multistage survey of individuals ≥ 15 years of age. We used a backward elimination multivariate logistic regression model to measure the association between having been to a dental clinic during the last year, and sex, age, marital status, education, time since last routine medical examination, history of diagnosis with a cardiovascular chronic condition, brushing or flossing teeth and use of Miswak (a chewing stick). RESULTS: Between April and June 2013, 10,735 participants completed the survey (89.4% of the households contacted). An estimated 1.5 million (11.5%) and 6.3 million (48.6%) Saudi Arabian people, ≥ 15 years of age, had visited a dental clinic for a routine check-up and for a complaint during the last year, respectively. In total, 16.3%, 85.0% and 52% of Saudi Arabian people never brush their teeth, never floss their teeth or never use Miswak, respectively. The probability of visiting a dental clinic increased with education, among individuals who brushed or flossed their teeth and who used Miswak. CONCLUSIONS: Oral hygiene practices are not common among Saudi Arabian people, and use of health care for prevention of oral disease is limited. Hence, the need for oral health promotion is pressing. The KSA Ministry of Health should develop and implement programmes, through its primary health clinics, to increase the awareness of the importance of good oral health.

Use of dental floss: opinion of present and future oral health workers.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the use of dental floss among all cadres of present and future dental health workers, in a Nigerian teaching hospital, and their opinion on the use of dental floss in the management of periodontal diseases. Methodology: A 30-item questionnaire was used to elicit information on respondents' demographics, their opinion about the use of dental floss in the management of periodontal diseases and their personal use of dental floss. It also elicited information on respondents' practice of recommending dental floss to dental patients and how confident they are in their ability to properly demonstrate the use of dental floss to the patients. Bivariate analyses were used to assess whether the position of the oral health workers, their gender and their use of dental floss has a relationship with their knowledge, attitude and practices regarding the use dental floss. Results: Only 17.4% of the study participants flossed daily. A few of the respondents (29.4%) felt that flossing should be done after tooth brushing while majority (51.4%) felt it can be done anytime. Majority of the study participants use dental floss but fewer participants recommend the use of dental floss to their patients (p = 0.001). Among the oral health workers who do not use dental floss, 98.9% knew that dental floss removes plaque from the interdental area, 64.3% thought that flossing polishes the tooth surface as it removes the dental plaque and debris (p = 0.039) and 85.7% reported that flossing massages the interdental areas (p = 0.039). Conclusion: It can be concluded that majority of the present and future oral health workers studied believe in the effectiveness of the use of dental floss in the prevention of periodontal diseases and use dental floss occasionally but the oral health workers who recommend the use of dental floss to patients are fewer.

Relationship Between Social and Behavioural Factors and Caries Experience in Schoolchildren in Italy.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to: 1) determine the oral health status of Campanian (Italy) 5- and 12-year-old schoolchildren; 2) establish an oral health baseline prior to introducing promotion and prevention strategies and appropriate healthcare for specific groups; 3) provide the starting point for monitoring changes over time according to the World Health Organization 2020 global goals for oral health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was performed on schoolchildren from public schools. 828 children were clinically evaluated, recording DMFT, dmft and SiC (Significant Caries Index). A questionnaire investigating demographic and oral health behaviour was completed by parents. RESULTS: 56.6% of the 5-year-old children were caries free (deciduous dentition) and the mean dmft value was 1.44 ± 2.13. In 12-year-old children, caries prevalence was 35.8%. The mean DMFT value was 1.17 ± 1.96, while the SiC was 3.42 ± 1.97. There were significant relationships between dmft/DMFT (caries experience) and family income level (p < 0.001), mother's educational level (p < 0.001) and history of recent dental visits (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Information drawn from this study can be helpful to describe future and specific dental prevention programmes in order to reduce caries incidence and promote better oral health in the Campania region of Italy.

Self-reported Use of Dental Floss over 13 Years: Relationship with Family Income, Mother's Age and Educational Level.

PURPOSE: To determine whether family income, age and educational level of the mother of the family are associated with self-reported use of dental floss over a 13-year period in a city in southern Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparison of two household surveys was carried out where mothers of the family were interviewed using a structured questionnaire in order to obtain demographic, behavioural and socioeconomic information. In total, 852 and 984 households were included in 1996 and 2009, respectively. Self-reported use of dental floss was assessed dichotomously (yes/no). Poisson regression models were fitted to study the association between sociodemographic variables with the use of dental floss. Proportion ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were reported. RESULTS: The proportion of dental floss use increased from 48% to 59% over 13 years. The probability of dental floss use increased 1.23 times from 1996 to 2009 (PR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.13-1.34). Households with mothers ≥50 years old presented a 28% lower probability of using dental floss than households with mothers ≤35 years old. In households with higher family income and higher educational level of the mother, probabilities of flossing were 90% and 97% higher. CONCLUSION: Family income, age and educational level of the mother of the family are associated with self-reported use of dental floss over 13 years.

Oral health of individuals aged 3-80 years in Jönköping, Sweden, during 40 years (1973-2013). I. Review of findings on oral care habits and knowledge of oral health.

The aim of the this study was to present data on oral care habits and knowledge of oral health in 2013, and to compare these data with results from a series of four previous cross-sectional epidemiological studies. All these studies were carried out in the city of Jönköping, Sweden, in 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003, and 2013. The 1973 study constituted a random sample of 1,ooo individuals evenly distributed in the age groups 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 years. The same age groups with addition of a group of 80-year-olds were included in the 1983, 1993, 2003, and 2013 studies, which comprised 1,104; 1,078; 987; and 1,010 individuals, respectively. A questionnaire about dental care habits and knowledge of oral health was used. The questionnaire contained the same questions in all the five studies, although some had to be slightly modernised during the 40-year period. During the period 1973-2013, a continous increase of individuals in the age group 20-60 years were treated by the Public Dental Service amounting to about 50%. Almost 70% of the 70- and 80-year-olds were treated by private practitioners. In 2013, 10-20% of the individuals in the age groups 30-40 years did not regularly visit neither Public Dental Service nor a private practitioner. The corresponding figures for the individuals 50-80 years old were 4-7%. Similar number of avoidance was reported in the previous studies. In the survey 2013, about 20-30% of the individuals in the age groups 20-50 felt frightened, sick, or ill at ease at the prospect of an appointment with the dentist. These findings were in agreement with the results from the surveys 1973-2003. Among the younger age groups, 0-15 years, a reduction in self-reported "ill at ease" was found in the surveys 2003 and 2013 compared to the previous surveys in this series. In 2013, the knowledge of the etiology of caries was known by about 60% of the individuals which was similar to that reported 1973-2003. Twenty per cent of the individuals stated that they did not know which etiological factors that causes caries. This percentage was equivalent during the period 1973-2013.About 85% of the individuals in all age groups brushed their teeth with fluoride tooth paste at least two times a day. These frequencies have gradually increased during the 40-year period. Around 40% in the age groups 50-80 years used toothpicks regularly in 2013. This is a about 1/3-1/2 less compared to 2003. In the age groups 20-40 years 3-14% used toothpicks for proximal cleaning in 2013. In 2013, about 35% of the individuals never consumed soft drinks, in comparison with 20% in 2003. In the age groups 3-20 years about 20% were consuming soft drinks every day or several times a week,which is a reduction by half compared to 2013.