Living with Family Is Directly Associated with Regular Dental Checkup and Indirectly Associated with Gingival Status among Japanese University Students: A 3-Year Cohort Study

Abstract

Although some studies showed that lifestyle was associated with oral health behavior, few studies investigated the association between household type and oral health behavior. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to investigate the association between household type, oral health behavior, and periodontal status among Japanese university students. Data were obtained from 377 students who received oral examinations and self-questionnaires in 2016 and 2019. We assessed periodontal status using the percentage of bleeding on probing (%BOP), probing pocket depth, oral hygiene status, oral health behaviors, and related factors. We used structural equation modeling to determine the association between household type, oral health behaviors, gingivitis, and periodontitis. At follow-up, 252 students did not live with their families. The mean ± standard deviation of %BOP was 35.5 ± 24.7 at baseline and 32.1 ± 25.3 at follow-up. In the final model, students living with their families were significantly more likely to receive regular dental checkup than those living alone. Regular checkup affected the decrease in calculus. The decrease in calculus affected the decrease in %BOP over 3 years. Living with family was directly associated with regular dental checkups and indirectly contributed to gingival status among Japanese university students.

The Impact of Oral Health Behaviors, Health Belief Model, and Absolute Risk Aversion on the Willingness of Japanese University Students to Undergo Regular Dental Check-Ups: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Oral health status (DMFT, %BOP, and OHI-S) was not associated with willingness to undergo regular dental check-ups. Oral health status in the present study was better overall than in recent studies of university students (DMF 0.02 vs. 1.6, %BOP 16.7% vs. 35.5%, and OHI-S 0.2 vs. 0.5) [ 3 , 41 ]. The participants might have been more interested in oral health and had good oral health behaviors.…”

“…Undergoing regular dental check-ups is significantly associated with good oral hygiene status in Japanese university students [ 1 , 2 ]. However, the percentage of Japanese students undergoing regular dental check-ups is 12.3–30.2% [ 1 , 2 , 3 ], lower than the general Japanese population according to the National Health and Nutrition Survey in 2016 (52.9%) [ 4 ]. On the other hand, in Japan, an oral examination once a year is mandatory for students until the high school period.…”

Trends in Self-Rated Oral Health and Its Associations with Oral Health Status and Oral Health Behaviors in Japanese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from 2011 to 2019

“…Therefore, they can easily change their health and lifestyle behaviors [ 1 , 9 ]. University students’ household type was directly associated with regular dental check-ups and indirectly contributed to gingival status [ 23 ]. Some previous studies reported that oral health behaviors such as tooth brushing, use of dental floss, and regular dental check-ups affected oral hygiene and periodontal status in university students and adults [ 24 , 25 ].…”

Association between dry eye and periodontal disease in community-dwelling Japanese adults: data from the Uonuma cohort study

“…In the present study, it was observed that nearly half of the participants who lived alone had a history of PD, and living status showed a significant association with the likelihood of PD. Living status is recognized as a strong factor influencing individuals’ oral health [ 24 ]. Living alone is associated with a higher likelihood of developing depressive symptoms compared to living with family members [ 25 ].…”