# Prevalence of Non-Daily Teeth Cleaning and Its Associated Factors Among Adult Population in Rwanda

## TL;DR

This study found that about a third of adults in Rwanda do not clean their teeth daily, with factors like rural living and lower income playing a role.

## Contribution

The study identifies key socioeconomic and behavioral factors linked to non-daily teeth cleaning in Rwanda using national survey data.

## Key findings

- 33.1% of adults in Rwanda do not clean their teeth daily.
- Rural residence and lower income are strongly associated with non-daily teeth cleaning.
- Not using toothpaste is linked to less frequent teeth cleaning.

## Abstract

Oral hygiene practices are vital for maintaining health, yet many adults do not engage in daily teeth cleaning. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of non-daily teeth cleaning among adults in Rwanda using data from the 2022 Rwanda Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) STEPS Survey which used a cross-sectional design and multistage cluster sampling. Weighted prevalence estimates and logistic regression models were used to examine associations between non-daily teeth cleaning and key demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and oral health factors. The prevalence of non-daily teeth cleaning was 33.1% (95% CI: 31.0–35.2). Rural residence (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.5–4.1), lower education (AOR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2–0.6), lower income (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3–3.2), and not using toothpaste (AOR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0–1.7) were significantly associated with increased odds of non-daily teeth cleaning. These findings underscore the need for targeted oral health promotion strategies that address socioeconomic disparities and improve access to affordable hygiene products.