Relationships between lifestyle and dental health behaviors in a rural population in Japan.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine associations of lifestyle with dental health behaviors such as tooth brushing frequency, use of extra cleaning devices, and regular dental visits to a dentist.


METHODS
Data were collected from 1182 dentate residents 18 years of age or older who resided in a typical farming district. The data included data on the demographic factors, dental health behavior, and various aspects of lifestyle, i.e. mental condition, alcohol consumption, smoking habit, physical activity, social activity, dietary habits, and presence of systemic diseases.


RESULTS
Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects in a younger group (18-39 years of age) and subjects who had never smoked brushed their teeth more frequently. Experience of social volunteer work and presence of systemic disease were correlated with use of extra cleaning devices. Associations of female gender with frequency of tooth brushing and use of extra cleaning devices were weakly positive. The subjects who considered dietary combination carefully and those who lived alone were predisposed to visit a dentist regularly.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that dental health behavior is associated with lifestyle as well as demographic factors.
Harada
Shoji
S
Department of Oral Health Science, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8586, Japan.
Akhter
Rahena
R
Kurita
Keiko
K
Mori
Miyako
M
Hoshikoshi
Misuzu
M
Tamashiro
Hidehiko
H
Morita
Manabu
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires