Trends in Social Inequality in Tooth Brushing among Adolescents: 1991-2014

Publisher: Karger

E-ISSN: 1421-976x|49|6|595-599

ISSN: 0008-6568

Source: Caries Research, Vol.49, Iss.6, 2015-0, pp. : 595-599

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Abstract

This study examines whether social inequality in tooth brushing frequency among adolescents changed from 1991 to 2014. The data material was seven comparable cross-sectional studies of nationally representative samples of 11- to 15-year-olds in Denmark with data about frequency of tooth brushing and occupation of parents. The total number of participants was 31,464, of whom 21.7% brushed their teeth less than the recommended 2 times a day. The absolute social inequality measured as prevalence difference between low and high social class increased from 7.7% in 1991 to 14.6% in 2014. The relative social inequality assessed by odds ratios for infrequent tooth brushing also increased from 1991 to 2014.