Frequency of Tooth Brushing and Associated Factors in Mexican Schoolchildren Six to Nine Years of Age

Objective: To determine the prevalence of daily tooth brushing and evaluate some variables associated. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 320 schoolchildren six to nine years old in Campeche, Mexico. Information on sociodemographic and socio-economic variables, oral hygiene practices and attitudes were collected through a questionnaire. The frequency of tooth brushing was categorized as “0” = fewer than seven times/week, “1” = at least once a day. In the analysis, nonparametric tests were used. Results: Mean age was 6.99 ± 1.00 years, 52.5% were boys. The prevalence of daily tooth brushing was 81.6%. In bivariate analysis, the prevalence of tooth brushing was higher (p < 0.05) among the children of mothers with higher schooling (9.80 years vs 8.47 years, p < 0.05), and in younger children (84.6% in 6−7-year olds vs 71.2% in 8−9-year olds, p < 0.05). A slight, non-significant association (p < 0.10) was noted between the current frequency of tooth brushing and an earlier age when the child first started brushing with toothpaste. There were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) in the frequency of tooth brushing by gender or by the mother’s attitude toward the oral health of her child. Conclusions: The prevalence of daily tooth brushing was high compared to other studies. Mother’s maximum level of schooling (as an indicator of socio-economic position) was associated with higher frequency of tooth brushing. Maternal characteristics are associated with the oral health behaviour of their children

Socioeconomic Inequality in Professionally Administered Topical Fluoride among Mexican Schoolchildren

Objective: To identify and characterize socio-economic inequalities in professionally administered topical fluoride treatment to schoolchildren. Methods: One thousand six hundred and forty-four schoolchildren [6 to 13 years of age, mean 9.06 ± 2.02; years 50.9% boys] were included in a cross-sectional study. Using questionnaires directed to mothers/guardians, we collected sociodemographic, socio-economic and dental variables. The dependent variable was at least one professional application of topical fluoride by a dentist in the previous year. Dentists in Mexico carry out the scope of clinical care traditionally assigned to dental hygienists in the United States of America (USA) and Canada. A multivariate logistic regression model was generated. Results: The prevalence of fluoride application was 11.5 % (95% CI = 9.9, 13.0). In the multivariate model, the odds of having a topical fluoride application was higher in children who reported brushing teeth more often (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.22, 2.15) and in children from families with better socio-economic position (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.50). Conclusions: The experience of having fluoride administered by a dentist in the previous year was low overall in this sample of Mexican children. The results of the study suggest certain socio-economic inequalities. Strategies aimed at eliminating such inequalities across the socioeconomic spectrum are necessary if this population group is to follow recommended frequency schedules for topical fluoride applications

Indicators of oral health in older adults with and without the presence of multimorbidity: a cross-sectional study

Horacio Islas-Granillo,1 Socorro Aida Borges-Ya&ntilde;ez,2 Jos&eacute; de Jes&uacute;s Navarrete-Hern&aacute;ndez,1 Miriam Alejandra Veras-Hern&aacute;ndez,1 Juan Fernando Casanova-Rosado,3 Mirna Minaya-S&aacute;nchez,3 Alejandro Jos&eacute; Casanova-Rosado,3 Miguel &Aacute;ngel Fern&aacute;ndez-Barrera,1 Carlo Eduardo Medina-Sol&iacute;s1,4 1Academic Area of Dentistry, Health Sciences Institute, Autonomous University of Hidalgo State, Pachuca, Mexico; 2DEPeI Faculty of Dentistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico; 3Faculty of Dentistry, Autonomous University of Campeche, Campeche, Mexico; 4Advanced Studies and Research Center in Dentistry &ldquo;Dr Keisaburo Miyata&rdquo;, Faculty of Dentistry, Autonomous University State of Mexico, Toluca, Mexico Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the distribution of various indicators of oral health among elderly people with and without multimorbidity (ie, two or more chronic diseases). Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted using a sample of Mexican elderly individuals aged &ge;60 years. The average age of the cohort was 79.06&plusmn;9.78 years, and 69.1% were women. The variables indicating oral health were as follows: functional dentition, edentulism, hyposalivation, xerostomia, root caries and periodontitis. The multimorbidity variable was operationally categorized as follows: 0= subjects with no chronic disease or one chronic disease and 1= subjects with two or more chronic diseases. Questionnaires were used to collect information on various variables regarding general health. Likewise, the participants underwent a clinical oral examination. The analysis was performed using Stata 11.0. Results: The overall prevalence of multimorbidity was 27.3%. The prevalences of various oral health indicators were as follows: without functional dentition 89.9%; hyposalivation 59.7%; edentulism 38.9% and self-reported xerostomia 25.2%. Dental caries were observed in 95.3% of the subjects, and the prevalence of severe periodontitis was 80%. We found a significant difference only in edentulism; its prevalence was higher among subjects with multimorbidity (55.3%&nbsp;vs 32.7%, P=0.015) than among those without multimorbidity. Conclusion: The presence of edentulism in this sample of Mexican older adults was higher in subjects with multimorbidity. Multimorbidity and oral diseases constitute a true challenge in elderly people, because they affect quality of life and are associated with high health care costs. Keywords: older adults, multimorbidity, oral health, edentulism, tooth los

Relação entre perdas dentárias e queixas de mastigação, deglutição e fala em indivíduos adultos Relation between tooth loss and chewing, swallowing and speech complaints in adults

OBJETIVO: investigar se as perdas dentárias em indivíduos adultos apresentam relação com as queixas de fala, mastigação e deglutição. MÉTODOS: participaram deste estudo 50 indivíduos adultos, trabalhadores de uma Avícola, do município de Bariri (SP), com faixa etária entre 18 e 52 anos. Os participantes selecionados foram submetidos à avaliação odontológica por um cirurgião-dentista e à entrevista fonoaudiológica, por duas fonoaudiólogas, em um consultório do município que mantém contrato de prestação de serviço com a Avícola. Para análise dos resultados, foram comparados os indivíduos com e sem perda dos elementos dentários, denominados de grupo experimental (GE) e grupo controle (GC), respectivamente, a partir da aplicação do teste Qui-Quadrado. RESULTADOS: os resultados revelaram maior ocorrência de mastigação unilateral no GE. Queixas quanto à dificuldade e dor na mastigação estiveram presentes apenas no GE, com diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos (p<0,05). O tempo de deglutição mostrou-se inadequado para a maioria dos indivíduos em ambos os grupos. A maioria dos indivíduos do GC mencionou utilizar algum tipo de líquido para facilitar a deglutição. Nenhum indivíduo mencionou queixas de fala. CONCLUSÃO: os achados revelaram que a ausência de elementos dentários em indivíduos adultos apresentou relação apenas entre dificuldade e dor durante a mastigação.<br>PURPOSE: to investigate if tooth absence in adults shows any relationship with chewing, swallowing and speech complaints. METHODS: 50 adults, who were poultry farm workers from Bariri municipality, in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, between the ages of 18 and 52, took part in this study. The selected participants were evaluated by a dentist and interview were carried out by two speech and language pathologist, in one of the municipality's office which has a contract of service rendering with the poultry farm. For analyzing the results, individuals with and without tooth loss, referred to as, respectively, the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG), and were compared based on the performance of the Chi-Square test. RESULTS: the results revealed a higher occurrence of unilateral chewing in the EG (61.54%) and the chewing time showed itself inadequate for the most of the individuals in both groups. Claims of difficulties and pain in chewing were present only in the EG, which showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Most of the individuals of the CG also mentioned the use of some drinking liquids to facilitate swallowing, without a statistically significant difference. There was no report of complaints related to speech in both groups. CONCLUSION: the findings revealed that the absence of teeth in adults showed relation only with the complaints with difficulty and pain during chewing