Socioeconomic Inequalities in Oral Health-related Behaviors in 18-Year-Old Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study.

Abstract

ABSTRACTAims:This study aimed to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in oral health-related behaviors, such as frequency of toothbrushing, flossing, and dental appointments, in 18-year-old Portuguese adolescents.Materials and Methods:Data were obtained from the third National Prevalence Study of Oral Health Diseases (III ENPDO), which was carried out in Portugal between 2012 and 2013. This study included 1075 adolescents aged 18 years. The information on socioeconomic status and oral health behaviors was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Binary logistic regression models were used to assess the association between social determinants and oral health-related behaviors. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios and confidence intervals were estimated.Results:The results found that father’s educational level and both father’s and mother’s employment status were associated with adolescents not visiting a dental professional before the last 12 months. Male sex, living in a rural area, and lower adolescent’s educational level were associated with toothbrushing less than twice a day. Furthermore, father’s educational level and mother’s employment status were also associated with a lower frequency of toothbrushing, whereas only mother’s employment status was associated with a lower frequency of flossing.Conclusion:These findings demonstrated that socioeconomic inequalities in oral health-related behaviors of 18-year-old adolescents were associated with parental employment status and educational level, adolescent’s educational level, sex, and residential zone.