title: Self-reported oral hygiene habits among dental patients in Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this survey was to assess oral hygiene habits and compliance with guidelines for good oral health set forth by the Italian Ministry of Health (IMH).
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 2,200 self-administered questionnaires was sent to four dental clinics across Italy to assess sociodemographic information, oral hygiene habits, frequency of dental visits and services received at previous visits among a population of adult patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2,200 questionnaires, 1,201 (54.6%) were returned. Findings showed that full compliance with the IMH recommendations was low (12%): a small number of patients (n = 223, 18.6%) visited a dentist every 6 months and only 256 (23.5%) brushed their teeth at least twice a day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data showed that regular attendance (at least 1 visit/year) at dental clinics for routine check-up and brushing teeth at least twice a day were poor. Therefore, we recommend that clinicians educate and motivate their patients about the benefits of healthy oral hygiene practices.
authors.affiliation: Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Md, USA. alessandro.villa@unimi.it
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Aimee R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kreimer
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polimeni
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cicciù
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strohmenger
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gherlone
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abati
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult