title: Tooth brushing frequency in Mexican schoolchildren and associated socio-demographic, socioeconomic, and dental variables.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tooth brushing (with fluoridated toothpaste) is the most cost-effective intervention in dentistry and it is widely recommended to preserve good oral health. We aimed to determine the frequency of tooth brushing and the variables associated with this practice in schoolchildren living in southeast Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out in 1644 schoolchildren, 6 to 13 years old. Questionnaires with socio-demographic, socioeconomic, and dental variables were administered to mothers/guardians of children. The dependent variable was the frequency of tooth brushing, which was categorized as 0 = tooth brushing less than once a day and 1 = tooth brushing at least once a day. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the final results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 9.06±2.02 years and 49.1% were girls. The prevalence of tooth brushing at least once a day was 49.8%. In the multivariate model, characteristics related to tooth brushing frequency (p<0.05) were: older age (OR=1.11), being female (OR=1.64), having a larger family (OR=0.87), having had a visit to a dentist during the year preceding the study (OR=1.37), and having had fluoride applications by a professional (OR=1.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that different variables (demographic, socioeconomic and dental) are associated with the frequency of tooth brushing. Family size (proxy variable for socioeconomic status) may indicate certain oral health inequalities in this population.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Autonomous University of Campeche, Campeche, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alejandro José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Casanova-Rosado
authors.affiliation: Academic Area of Dentistry, Health Sciences Institute, Autonomous University of State of Hidalgo, Pachuca, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlo Eduardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Medina-Solís
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Autonomous University of Campeche, Campeche, Mexico.
authors.forename: Juan Fernando
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Casanova-Rosado
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Autonomous University of Campeche, Campeche, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ana Alicia
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vallejos-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Autonomous University of Campeche, Campeche, Mexico.
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minaya-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Academic Area of Dentistry, Health Sciences Institute, Autonomous University of State of Hidalgo, Pachuca, Mexico.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Academic Area of Dentistry, Health Sciences Institute, Autonomous University of State of Hidalgo, Pachuca, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Márquez-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Indiana University / Purdue University at Indianapolis, Indianapolis, USA.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maupomé
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009909:Oral Health; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*