Portuguese self-reported oral-hygiene habits and oral status

Int Dent J. 2017 Jun;67(3):139-147. doi: 10.1111/idj.12273. Epub 2016 Dec 15.

Abstract

Background: Good oral health is essential for good general health and quality of life. In Portugal, there are few studies on oral-health habits and the population's perceptions of this behaviour.

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to characterise the Portuguese population's self-reported oral-health status, habits and perceptions, as well as their demands regarding national oral health-care services.

Methods: A randomised group of 1,395 individuals, > 15 years of age, was selected as a representative sample of the Portuguese population. Face-to-face interviews were conducted, based on a structured questionnaire with closed and semi-closed questions. The data were submitted for statistical analysis using SPSS.

Results and discussion: A sample of 1,102 individuals answered the questionnaire. The great majority of the sample (97.6%) brushed their teeth daily, 70.3% had lost permanent teeth and 6.4% were edentulous. The loss of permanent teeth was statistically associated with poor oral-hygiene habits (P < 0.01). Moreover, 50.1% of the participants had experienced difficulty eating and/or drinking, 18% had felt ashamed of the appearance of their teeth and 69.3% had experienced toothache or gingival pain. A reduction in visits to a dentist in the previous 12 months was identified mainly for people from a lower social class (31.2%) and older people (29.4%).

Conclusion: Evidence suggests that oral diseases might be more prevalent in Portuguese adults than the European average. Efforts should be made to promote good oral-hygiene habits among older people and people from lower social classes.

Keywords: NHS; Oral health; habits; perceptions; visits.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dental Care / economics
  • Dental Care / standards
  • Dental Health Services / economics
  • Dental Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Ethnicity
  • Female
  • Gingival Diseases
  • Habits*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth, Edentulous
  • Oral Health / statistics & numerical data
  • Oral Hygiene / economics
  • Oral Hygiene / psychology*
  • Oral Hygiene / statistics & numerical data*
  • Portugal
  • Self Report / standards*
  • Social Class
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tooth Loss
  • Toothache
  • Toothbrushing / psychology
  • Young Adult