[Oral hygiene in Italy]

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Preventive Dentistry

Context:

• Italy has seen a notable decline in caries incidence among children over the past 15 years.
• This trend aligns with a decrease in per capita sugar consumption during the same period.
• The Italian Dental Association (AMDI) plays a role in professional dental practice and public health initiatives.

Purpose:

• To analyze trends in dental caries incidence in Italy.
• To explore potential correlations between caries rates, sugar consumption, and public health interventions.
• To highlight the data generated from large-scale oral hygiene awareness programs.

Summary:

• Caries incidence in Italian children (6-10 years) dropped from 84.5% (DMF-T 4.77) in 1970 to 72% (DMF-T 3.64) in 1980-85.
• Per capita sugar consumption decreased from 32.0 kg in 1974 to 28.2 kg in 1983.
• A 1988 'Month of Mouth Prevention' program, involving 4,400 dentists and over 300,000 patients, yielded significant oral hygiene data.

Impact:

• The study underscores the effectiveness of public health efforts and potential lifestyle changes in reducing dental caries.
• Data from the prevention program offer insights into toothbrushing habits and product usage in Italy.
• Highlights the absence of water fluoridation and the limited use of NaF pills in Italy's public health approach.