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Oral Health Related Behaviors in Relation to DMFT Indexes of Teenagers in an Urban Area of North-West Poland—Dental Caries Is Still a Common Problem

Author

Listed:
  • Marta Milona

    (Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Joanna Janiszewska-Olszowska

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Dentistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Monika Szmidt

    (Department of Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Karolina Kłoda

    (Medfit Karolina Kłoda, 70-240 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Tomasz Olszowski

    (Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland)

Abstract

Caries has a negative influence on health and is still a public health problem among children and adolescents in Poland. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of dietary habits, oral hygiene behaviors and the frequency of usage of dental services with the dental caries index in teenagers in North-West Poland. The study enrolled 264 children (147M/117F) aged 15. Participants filled out a questionnaire regarding age, sex, frequency of visits to the dentist, dietary habits and oral hygiene behaviors, and the Decayed Missing Filled Teeth Index (DMFT) was calculated. Caries was found in 88.6% of subjects. The lower or no caries experience group (DMFT ≤ 5) comprised of 180 subjects, while higher caries experience (DMFT > 5) was found in 84 teenagers and was significantly inversely associated with tooth brushing after the last meal (OR = 0.45; 95% CI:0.21–0.97; p = 0.04) and the daily use of dental floss (OR = 0.12; 95% CI:0.01–0.92; p = 0.04). There is an emerging need for the implementation of effective caries prevention and recovery programs in Poland. Health promotion focusing on oral hygiene behaviors should be disseminated more widely because lower caries experience was demonstrated in teenagers declaring healthy oral habits. Another important need is the development of multi-sectorial actions aiming at the improvement of dietary habits.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Milona & Joanna Janiszewska-Olszowska & Monika Szmidt & Karolina Kłoda & Tomasz Olszowski, 2021. "Oral Health Related Behaviors in Relation to DMFT Indexes of Teenagers in an Urban Area of North-West Poland—Dental Caries Is Still a Common Problem," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2333-:d:507052
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    1. Zrinka Ivanisevic & Zvonimir Uzarevic & Stjepanka Lesic & Aleksandar Vcev & Marko Matijevic, 2021. "Oral Health of Children from the SOS Children’s Village in Croatia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-15, January.
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