Distal and Proximal Influences on Self-Reported Oral Pain and Self-Rated Oral Health Status in Saudi Arabia:...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Behavior

Background:

• Oral health is crucial for overall well-being and quality of life.
• Saudi Arabia faces increasing oral disease burdens due to lifestyle changes.
• Understanding oral health determinants is vital for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate direct and indirect factors influencing oral pain (OP) and self-rated oral health (SROH) in Saudi Arabia.
• To analyze the associations between proximal (e.g., hygiene, diet) and distal (e.g., sociodemographic) influences on oral health outcomes.
• To utilize an adapted conceptual framework for a comprehensive analysis of oral health determinants.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional study using national health survey data from Saudi Arabia (2017).
• Inclusion of adults, adolescents, and children (total N=51,837).
• Path analysis modeling to assess direct, indirect, and total effects of proximal and distal influences on OP and SROH.

Main Results:

• Tooth brushing frequency positively impacts SROH and reduces OP.
• Sweet consumption is linked to increased OP and poorer SROH across age groups.
• Higher education correlates with better SROH and less OP, while access to care is crucial.

Conclusions:

• Oral pain and self-rated oral health in Saudi Arabia are significantly shaped by a complex interplay of proximal and distal factors.
• Interventions targeting lifestyle behaviors like brushing and diet, alongside improving access to care, are essential.
• Further research into the specific pathways influencing oral health in diverse populations is warranted.