A study on the use of dental hygiene devices in Korean adolescents

Sin-Young  Park1   So-Yeon  Ryu2,*   

Department of Health Science, Graduate School, Chosun University Deparment of dental hygiene, Songwon University
1Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate the use of dental hygiene devices in Korean adolescents. The study subjects were 70,362 adolescents in 800 schools who completed the 2015 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based survey. Dependent variables included usage of dental floss, interdental brushes and mouthwash solutions. Independent variables included demographic characteristics of the subjects, health state and behaviors, and oral health behaviors and experience of oral diseases. Results: The related factors of usage of dental hygiene devices included gender, where females showed higher usage (OR=1.10) compared to males, father and mother’s level of education where usage was higher in above university graduates (OR=1.20, OR=1.14) compared to less than high school graduation, economic status where usage was higherin high and middle (OR=1.93, OR=1.26) compared to low, vigorous physical activity where usage was higher in those who responded yes (OR=1.35) compared to no, subjective weight recognition where usage was higher in normal (OR=1.07) compared to under weight, sleep time where usage was higher in enough (OR=1.12) compared to not enough, number of toothbrushing (day) where usage was higher in 2 times or over 3 times (OR=1.35, OR=1.75) compared to below 1, oral health education experience (OR=1.10), sealant experience (OR=1.17) and scaling experience (OR=1.45) where usage was higher in those who responded yes compared to no, school where usage was lower in high school (OR=0.64) compared to middle school, residential type where usage was lower in rural area (OR=0.74) compared to metropolitan area, living form where usage was lower in other (OR=0.77), compared to with family, smoking (OR=0.93), and alcohol drinking (OR=0.90) where usage was lower in those who engage in the activities compared to those who didn’t , BMI where usage was lower in normal (OR=0.87) and over weight (OR=0.98) compared to under weight.To expand the use of dental hygiene devices in the adolescents, it is necessary to improve the continuing education program for need and motivation of dental hygiene device usage.

Figures & Tables

Table 1. Use of dental hygiene devices