Smoking, alcohol use, socioeconomic background and oral health among young Finnish adults.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of smoking and alcohol use in association with dental caries experience and signs of periodontal disease in a Finnish male group born in the early 1990s. The impacts of health behaviour and socioeconomic factors were included in the analyses.


METHODS
Oral health of 8539 conscripts was screened in a cross-sectional study (DT, DMFT and CPI). They also answered a questionnaire covering their habits of smoking and alcohol use as well as other behaviours and background factors. The bleeding on probing index (BOP) was available on 6529 conscripts. Cross-tabulation together with a chi-squared test and generalized linear mixed models were used in the analyses. A mosaic figure was used to illustrate associations of smoking frequency, use of dental services and toothache.


RESULTS
Majority (80.9%) in the study group consumed alcohol at least once a month, and 39.4% were daily smokers. Smoking was statistically significantly associated with high caries experience and high bleeding values of gums. Consumption of alcohol was not associated with dental caries and periodontal disease. The high BOP value had the strongest association with infrequent tooth brushing and smoking. The participant's own education level was the main protective factor of oral health. The smokers used dental services more frequently compared to the non-smokers mostly for acute care.


CONCLUSIONS
Young men's health behaviour, especially of those with low education, does not promote oral health, which may indicate need for extensive healthcare services in the future. Health promotion should not be neglected.
Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Tarja
T
Tanner
Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Jari
J
Päkkilä
Dental Training Clinic, City of Oulu, Finland.
Kaisa
K
Karjalainen
Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Antti
A
Kämppi
Imperial College, London, UK.|Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Department of Children, Young People and Families, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Oulu, Finland.|Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Unit of Primary Care, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
Marjo-Riitta
MR
Järvelin
Centre for Military Medicine, Finnish Defence Forces, Riihimäki, Finland.
Pertti
P
Patinen
Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Leo
L
Tjäderhane
Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Vuokko
V
Anttonen
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
caries; epidemiology; health promotion; oral hygiene; periodontal health; plaque