A gender perspective of self-perceived oral health in adolescents: associations with attitudes and behaviours.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the associations between dental attitudes and behaviours, and self-perceived oral health from a gender perspective in an adolescent population.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
All senior and upper secondary level schools in Skaraborg County, Sweden.


METHODS
17,280 students, aged 13-18 years.


METHODS
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.
Ostberg
A L
AL
Public Dental Services and Skaraborg Institute, Skövde, Sweden.
Halling
A
A
Lindblad
U
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002182:Candy; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology*; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009909:Oral Health; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden