Sense of coherence and oral health in dentate adults: findings from the Finnish Health 2000 survey

Abstract

To assess the relationship between sense of coherence (SOC) and oral health, and the role of oral health-related behaviours in this relationship. This is a cross-sectional study of 5401 dentate adults who participated in the nationally representative Health 2000 Survey in Finland. The survey gathered information on SOC, demographic characteristics, education, income, pre-existing diabetes, daily smoking, dental attendance, toothbrushing frequency and sugar intake frequency. Oral health was assessed through clinical outcomes, such as number of teeth, number of decayed teeth and extent of periodontal pockets and perceived oral health. A strong SOC was related to having more teeth, fewer decayed teeth, lower extent of periodontal pockets and good perceived oral health after adjustment for confounders, such as demographic and socioeconomic factors (all p0.003). These associations were attenuated but remained significant after further adjustment for potential mediators (oral health-related behaviours), except for the association of SOC with the extent of periodontal pockets, which was fully accounted for by pre-existing diabetes, oral health-related behaviours and dental plaque (p=0.549). SOC is positively associated with various aspects of adult oral health, in part because of the better oral health-related behaviours among people with a strong SOC.