title: The cultural basis for oral health practices among Somali refugees pre-and post-resettlement in Massachusetts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral health disparities related to socioeconomic status have been well described in the U.S., but oral health among refugee groups has not been well characterized. This article examines oral health among Somali refugees in Massachusetts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-three (83) participants were purposively selected for an in-depth, open-ended interview related to oral health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Older individuals associated use of the stick brush with the Islamic practice of cleansing before prayer. When unable to find stick brushes in the U.S., many adopted the Western toothbrush. Parents expressed concern that their children had adopted U.S. practices of brushing with a toothbrush only once or twice a day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Somali oral health practices have changed following arrival to the U.S., but the underlying model for oral health care remains rooted in Islam. By acknowledging the value of traditional practices, dentists may communicate the value of Western preventive and restorative dentistry, and recommend approaches to integrating the two.
authors.forename: Jo Hunter
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Samorga
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Lance D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Laird
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Geltman
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Fadumo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Egal
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Paasche-Orlow
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004032:Diet; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D009909:Oral Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012036:Refugees; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose