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Toothbrushing and flossing behaviour in young adults--a video observation
T Winterfeld1, N Schlueter, D Harnacke
1Department of Conservative and Preventive Dentistry, Dental Clinic, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
Clinical Oral Investigations
|September 5, 2014
Summary
Adults neglect brushing oral surfaces and underutilize floss, with brushing patterns unchanged since the 1970s. This highlights a need for improved oral hygiene instruction strategies to enhance daily practices.
Area of Science:
- Oral hygiene practices
- Dental public health
- Behavioral science in dentistry
Background:
- Studies from the 1970s indicated poor oral hygiene habits, specifically neglecting oral surfaces and unsystematic brushing.
- There's a lack of current data on habitual toothbrushing and flossing effectiveness.
- Understanding current oral hygiene behaviors is crucial for effective public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the habitual toothbrushing and flossing performance in young adults.
- To compare current oral hygiene practices with findings from previous decades.
- To identify specific areas of neglect in toothbrushing and flossing techniques.
Main Methods:
- A video observation study was conducted on 101 18-year-olds using standardized video recording.
- Habitual toothbrushing and flossing were analyzed using INTERACT video coding software.
- Key parameters included brushing duration, stroke types, brushing patterns, and flossing technique and coverage.
Main Results:
- Mean brushing duration was 156 seconds, with oral surfaces receiving significantly less attention (27.1s) than vestibular surfaces (72.1s).
- Brushing patterns showed frequent, non-random alternations between areas, accumulating within quadrants.
- Only 50% of participants flossed, with just one demonstrating sufficient technique.
Conclusions:
- Significant neglect of brushing oral surfaces and insufficient flossing technique were observed.
- Current brushing patterns mirror those documented in the 1970s, indicating a lack of improvement.
- Findings underscore the necessity of refining oral hygiene education strategies.
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