Objective: To explore frequency of tooth brushing, dental flossing, fluoride supplements and sugar snacking in 12-year-olds, and to study how these oral health behaviours were associated with background characteristics and caries prevalence.
Material and methods: The study included 4779 children. Data were collected by clinical examination and questionnaires regarding oral health behaviours and child characteristics. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Data were tested using Chi-square statistics and analyzed by logistic regression. The study was ethically approved.
Results: Of the children, 81% brushed twice daily, 36% flossed once a week or more often, 39% used fluoride supplements daily and 48% consumed sugar between meals once a week or less often. Children who brushed twice daily more often flossed regularly, used fluoride daily and consumed sugar between meals less often than other children (p < .05). Girls and children whose parents had long education more often had favourable oral health behaviours than other children; brushed more frequently, more often used floss and fluoride supplements and consumed sugary snacks less often than other children (p < .05). In total, 40% of the children were caries-free. Children who brushed less than twice daily had more often caries than other children (OR 1.50, CI 1.29-1.74) when controlling for background characteristics and other oral health behaviours.
Conclusions: The majority of children brushed twice daily and these children had caries less often than other children. The use of dental floss, fluoride supplements or sugar snacking in addition to brushing twice daily, did not reduce the probability of having caries.
Keywords: Caries; dental floss; fluoride supplements; sugar snacking; tooth brushing.