OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between dental attitudes and behaviours, and self-perceived oral health from a gender perspective in an adolescent population. DESIGN: A census survey. Self-reported questionnaires were answered anonymously in a standardised manner in classrooms. Attitudes studied included the importance of sound teeth and feelings towards visits to the dentist. Behaviours were represented by floss usage and sweets consumption. SETTING: All senior and upper secondary level schools in Skaraborg County, Sweden. SUBJECTS: 17,280 students, aged 13-18 years. OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-perceived oral health, represented by a single-item rating; satisfaction with the appearance of the teeth; self-assessed gum bleeding; and a perceived oral health (POH) index. RESULTS: Recognising sound teeth as important was a predominating attitude among the respondents (boys 94%, girls 97%) and was significantly associated with a good perceived oral health overall. Individuals who experienced visits to dentist as unpleasant (boys 36%, girls 43%) were less likely to perceive good oral health as single-item rated (OR for boys 0.55[0.49, 0.63], girls 0.40[0.34, 0.47]). Regular use of floss had a small protective effect on bleeding gums. Daily sweets consumption showed a significant and inverse association with self-perceived oral health as single-item rated (OR for boys 0.53[0.44, 0.66], girls 0.49[0.40, 0.60]). Girls, more often than boys, perceived their oral health to be good, except in the perception of the appearance of their teeth. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the strong associations between attitudes and self-perceived oral health should be recognised in strategies for oral health promotion and that gender differences must be considered.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between dental attitudes and behaviours, and self-perceived oral health from a gender perspective in an adolescent population. DESIGN: A census survey. Self-reported questionnaires were answered anonymously in a standardised manner in classrooms. Attitudes studied included the importance of sound teeth and feelings towards visits to the dentist. Behaviours were represented by floss usage and sweets consumption. SETTING: All senior and upper secondary level schools in Skaraborg County, Sweden. SUBJECTS: 17,280 students, aged 13-18 years. OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-perceived oral health, represented by a single-item rating; satisfaction with the appearance of the teeth; self-assessed gum bleeding; and a perceived oral health (POH) index. RESULTS: Recognising sound teeth as important was a predominating attitude among the respondents (boys 94%, girls 97%) and was significantly associated with a good perceived oral health overall. Individuals who experienced visits to dentist as unpleasant (boys 36%, girls 43%) were less likely to perceive good oral health as single-item rated (OR for boys 0.55[0.49, 0.63], girls 0.40[0.34, 0.47]). Regular use of floss had a small protective effect on bleeding gums. Daily sweets consumption showed a significant and inverse association with self-perceived oral health as single-item rated (OR for boys 0.53[0.44, 0.66], girls 0.49[0.40, 0.60]). Girls, more often than boys, perceived their oral health to be good, except in the perception of the appearance of their teeth. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the strong associations between attitudes and self-perceived oral health should be recognised in strategies for oral health promotion and that gender differences must be considered.
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