Oral health status and oral health behaviors in Chinese schoolchildren

Objectives: To describe oral health status of rural Chinese children aged 12 years and 15 years. To evaluate the pattern of oral health behavior and assess the relative effect of socio-behavior risk factors on oral health status. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 12-year-old and 15-year-old children was conducted in the Sichuan province of China, A sample of 585 children participated in the survey; the sample was balanced by gender and location (rural /suburban). The children were examined by three calibrated dentists and responded to questionnaires for schoolchildren of WHO Integrated Package for Basic Oral Care. Results: The caries prevalence and mean DMFT score of the 12-year–old were 14.6%and 0.28(suburban) and 31.7% and 0.56 (rural) respectively. The caries prevalence and mean DMFT score of 15-year–old were 20.9%and 0.43(suburban) and 35.2% and 0.83 (rural). About 13% of the 12-year-olds exhibited no calculus while only 5% of the 15-year-olds had no calculus. Only 35% brushed their teeth at least twice a day and 15% had seen a dentist within the past year. 30% schoolchildren had experimented with cigarette, of which 8% smoked almost everyday. The multiple linear regression of oral health status revealed that consumption of sugary foods, use of fluoride toothpaste and smoke were the most important independent variables. Conclusions: The prevalence of caries among the 12-year-old and 15-year-old children was low, their periodontal condition was unsatisfactory, more oral health education activities should be organized, especially for the rural children.