Selected Behavioural Factors Affecting Oral Health in Schoolchildren: Results from the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Slovak Study.

Eliška Štefanová,Henrieta Hudečková,Jana Holubčíková,Miroslava Sovičová,Tibor Baška,Silvia Timková,Mária Tatarková

doi:10.3390/ijerph17207516

Abstract

Oral diseases, particularly dental caries, affect as much as nine in 10 persons globally. Its development starts during childhood. Behavioural factors play an important role in its aetiology. The aim of the research was to analyse the prevalence of selected behavioural factors associated with dental caries in Slovak adolescents. Selected factors, such as toothbrushing less than once a day, consumption of sweets and sweetened soft drinks daily and their combination, were analysed using data from Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children surveys carried out in 2005/2006, 2009/2010, 2013/2014 and 2017/2018 in Slovakia. The target group consisted of 11- to 13-year-old schoolchildren. The results were analysed by sex and socioeconomic status. The consumption of sweets and sweetened soft drinks, despite declining, remains widespread (41.3% of boys and 39.6% of girls in 2017/2018). The absence of daily toothbrushing, similarly as a co-occurrence of factors, were more frequent in boys (10.6% and 5.0% in 2017/2018, respectively) than in girls (5.1% and 2.3% in 2017/2018, respectively). The absence of daily toothbrushing was associated with a lower socioeconomic situation. In conclusion, behavioural risk factors affecting oral health are widespread in Slovak adolescents. Despite the positive development of the epidemiological situation, effective interventions, as well as the improvement of oral hygiene in lower socioeconomic groups, are needed.

Highlights

Oral health is defined as a normal state of the oral cavity, with the individual’s ability to eat, smile, speak, etc. without pain of any kind or noticeable disease [1]
The absence of daily toothbrushing uniformly dominated in boys through the studied period and varied from 10.6% to 3.6%
The dominance of boys was projected in a co-occurrence of insufficient toothbrushing with the consumption of sweets and/or sweetened soft drinks, and its prevalence was highest in boys in

Summary

Introduction

Oral health is defined as a normal state of the oral cavity, with the individual’s ability to eat, smile, speak, etc. without pain of any kind or noticeable disease [1]. Without pain of any kind or noticeable disease [1]. It plays an important role in maintaining overall health [2]. Dental caries ranks among the most common oral diseases. Economic aspect and effect on the quality of life, it presents a significant public health issue [3,4,5,6]. There are numerous factors increasing a risk of dental caries. Beside inherent and metabolic predispositions, behavioural factors are of great importance. Oral hygiene and diet play significant roles [1,7,8]. Tooth-brushing applied at least once a day has been considered as a principal tool to maintain oral health and to prevent caries [9].

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Discussion

Conclusion