[Psychology of dental home care]

The results of the present study are based on a two-step approach: explorative psychological pilot study (n = 100) international survey of a so-called representative cross-section of the population of the Federal Republic of Germany (n = 100), France (n = 517) and Spain (n = 514). The main results to be noted are: In all three countries the frequency and the duration of toothbrushing are still showing deficiencies. This applies above all to men in general and to not gainfully employed German women in particular. Quality and intensity of dental home care increase with the extent of personal hygiene consciousness in the private, professional and public spheres, with an increased body consciousness, with the increasing knowledge of health and hygiene, with the rising standards of the personal behavior related to preventive measures, body, household underwear and environmental hygiene as well as with the scope of a monitoring style of education for cleanliness based on the behavioral rules conveyed by parents to their children.