Preventive oral health behaviors among Detroit-area residents

It has been recommended that adults brush and floss their teeth daily and have periodic oral health checkups. A study was conducted to determine if those recommendations are followed.

Data were collected during face-to-face interviews with a probability sample of 662 dentate adults residing in the Detroit metropolitan area from August to November 1989. Participants were asked how frequently they brushed, flossed, and had checkups. They were also asked about the thoroughness with which they brushed and flossed, and about the advantages and disadvantages of all three behaviors. Descriptive statistics were calculated.

The response rate was 72%. While 97% of subjects reported brushing at least once a day and 32% reported flossing at least once a day, 13% indicated they did not brush all teeth or all parts of teeth, and one-third of those who said they flossed daily did not floss all teeth. Seventy-three percent of respondents reported getting dental checkups at least once a year. For brushing, insufficient thoroughness was more commonly a problem than insufficient frequency.

Patient education efforts related to brushing will probably be more effective if they focus on thoroughness rather than frequency. Interventions to increase flossing should probably focus on overcoming skill deficits.