J Public Health Dent. 2021 Oct 07; doi: 10.1111/jphd.12477. Epub 2021 Oct 07.

The influence of family socioeconomic status on toothbrushing practices in Australian children.

Journal of public health dentistry

Van Anh Trinh, Emiri Tarbit, Loc Do, Diep Ha, Santosh Kumar Tadakamadla

PMID: 34622451 DOI: 10.1111/jphd.12477

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between toothbrushing behavior and socio-demographic characteristics in Australian children.

METHODS: Data were collected through the 2012-2014 Australian National Child Oral Health Survey (NCOHS). NCOHS was a cross-sectional survey of representative school children aged 5-14 years of Australia with a total sample size of 24,664 children.

RESULTS: Two-thirds (69%) of Australian children brushed twice or more times a day and the mean age of starting toothbrushing with fluoridated toothpaste was 24 months. Males were less consistent with toothbrushing than females (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74-0.97) and the likelihood of brushing twice or more a day improved with the increase in age (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.02-1.08). Children with university educated (OR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.44-2.26), vocational trained parents'/guardians' (OR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.11-1.90), living in families with an income of >AU$120,000 (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.08-1.89) and having an overseas born parent (OR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.07-1.58) were more likely to brush their teeth twice or more a day than their comparative counterparts. Children in households with two children (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.07-1.64) were more likely to brush twice or more than single-child households. Children with a health welfare card tended to delay the start of toothbrushing by 1.4 months in comparison to those without a welfare card. Children with one of the caregivers born overseas started brushing later than those with Australia born caregivers (B = 1.04; SE = 0.46). Children living in high income and educated families and households with two or more children tended to start toothbrushing at an earlier age.

CONCLUSIONS: Several family socio-demographic factors influenced toothbrushing habits in Australian children.

© 2021 American Association of Public Health Dentistry.

Keywords: children; determinants; socioeconomic status; toothbrushing

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Publication Types

• Journal Article

Grant support

• APP1161659/National Health and Medical Research Council
• APP1016326/National Health and Medical Research Council