title: Toothbrushing and smoking among adolescents--aggregation of health damaging behaviours.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether an association exists between daily smoking and infrequent toothbrushing habits among adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nationally representative samples of 14-, 16- and 18-year-old Finns (N=5643) took part in the survey. A 12-page structured questionnaire was posted to the adolescents, asking them to complete it and return it in an enclosed pre-paid envelope. The χ(2)-test and a logistic regression model were used for analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the age of 14 years, 8.5% reported smoking daily, at 16 years 25.0% and at 18 years 33.2%. Only 28.3-54.7% of the adolescents reported brushing their teeth more than once a day. Among 14-year-olds, 6.5% of the adolescents reported both smoking daily and brushing less than twice a day. The respective figures were 17.7% for the 16-year-olds and 21.6% for the 18-year-olds. Among the 14-year-olds, the strongest association with smoking daily and brushing less than twice a day was found with low school performance (OR=8.2), and among 16- and 18-year-olds school career (studying at a vocational school, OR=3.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily smoking and infrequent toothbrushing are strongly associated in adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait. sisko.honkala@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sisko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honkala
authors.forename: Eino
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Honkala
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Arja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rimpelä
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data