Association between socioeconomic status and oral health behaviors: The 2008–2010 Korea national health and nutrition examination survey

Abstract

Abstract. Socioeconomic status (SES) has been reported to be associated with oral health behavior. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the relationship between SES and oral health behaviors in a large sample of the Korean population. Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was conducted between 2008 and 2010 by the Division of Chronic Disease Surveillance under the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, were used in the present study. Daily tooth brushing frequency and the use of secondary oral products according to demographic variables and anthropometric characteristics of the participants were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the associations between daily tooth brushing frequency and the use of secondary oral products, and SES, urban/rural residence, body mass index (BMI), alcohol intake and smoking. An association between SES and tooth brushing frequency and the use of secondary oral products was detected after adjustment. Following adjustment for age, gender, BMI, smoking, drinking, exercise, energy intake, fat intake, periodontal treatment needs and education or income, the adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of tooth brushing ≥3 per day in the highest income group were 1.264 (95% CI, 1.094-1.460) and 2.686 (95% CI, 2.286-3.155) for highest education level group. The adjusted odds ratios for the use of secondary oral products in the highest income and highest education groups were 1.835 (95% CI, 1.559-2.161) and 5.736 (95% CI, 4.734-6.951), respectively, after adjustment for age, gender, smoking, BMI, exercise, calorie intake, periodontal treatment requirements or income. The present study demonstrated an association between SES and oral health behaviors in a large sample of the Korean population. Within the limits of the present study, income and education were suggested as potential risk indicators for oral health behaviors; therefore, patients with a low SES should be investigated further, in relation to oral health.

Role of oral health‐related behaviors in education inequalities in chronic periodontitis among Sri Lankan men

“…A positive education gradient in never drinking and an inverse education gradient in hazardous drinking have been observed among Sri Lankan men . In contrast to the findings of Park et al, education disparities were not observed in relation to frequency of tooth brushing, and the discrepancy between that and the present study could be due to the differences in defining and categorizing tooth brushing frequency.…”

Dental markers of poverty: Biocultural deliberations on oral health of the poor in mid‐nineteenth‐century Ireland

“…In addition to causing pain and discomfort, tooth decay can expose a tooth to further infection, and several clinical studies have reported a positive correlation with an increased mortality risk in individuals with poor oral health (Jansson, Lavstedt, & Frithiof, 2002; Kim, Baker, Davarian, & Crimmings, 2013). A significant relationship has also been demonstrated between poor oral health and low socioeconomic status in numerous modern studies across the world (Chandra Shekar & Reddy, 2011; Dye & Thornton‐Evans, 2010; Hobdell et al, 2003; Park, Han, Park, & Ko, 2016; Paula et al, 2012). It is clear from the current study that the poor in mid‐nineteenth‐century Ireland also suffered from oral health problems.…”

Desempenho dos Centros de Especialidades Odontológicas da 2ª Regional de Saúde do Paraná

“…Conforme observado em diversos estudos 10,36,37 , as desigualdades socioeconômicas e geográficas influenciam as condições de saúde bucal. Portanto, tais fatores deveriam ser considerados quando se avalia o desempenho dos serviços de saúde.…”