Predictors of Oral Health in Young Swedish Adults: A Register-Based Observational Study

TL;DR

This study found that young adults' attitudes and behaviors around oral health at 19 predict their oral health outcomes in their 20s and 30s.

Contribution

Identifies psychosocial and behavioral predictors of oral health in young Swedish adults using longitudinal registry data.

Findings

Valuing oral health at 19 years predicted good professionally-assessed oral health in young adulthood.

Females and those who took very good care of their teeth were more likely to report good self-assessed oral health.

Smoking increased the risk of poor self-assessed oral health.

Abstract

This retrospective registry study aimed to identify psychosocial and behavioral predictors of oral health in young adulthood.

A total of 335 Swedish individuals who completed questionnaires pertaining to oral health-related attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors at 19 years, were followed through young adulthood (23–31 years) using registry data. Information on missing, decayed/filled teeth, periodontal status, and self-assessed (SA) oral health scores was retrieved. Predictors of professionally-assessed (PA) and SA oral health were explored using regression analyses.

Considering oral health to be very important at 19 years was a predictor for good PA oral health in young adulthood (odds ratio [OR] 3.2, 95% CI 1.1, 9.4). Females (risk ratio [RR] 4.1, 95% CI 1.8, 9.4) and those reporting taking very good care of their teeth (RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2, 5.3) were more likely to later report very good SA oral health. Smoking increased the risk for poor–very poor SA oral health (RR 5.1, 95% CI 1.9, 13.8). Few participants brushed infrequently at 19 years and they were polarized in their later SA oral health scores.

A positive attitude towards oral health at age 19 years was associated with good PA oral health in young adulthood, whereas gender, smoking, toothbrushing frequency, and the perceived quality of own dental care were predictors of subsequent SA oral health.

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