PubMed · 1992 · 14 citations · 0 references
DentistryDental HygieneDental Public HealthCommunity Dental HygieneGeriatric Oral HealthOral EpidemiologyEpidemiology Of Oral DiseasesOral HygieneOral Hygiene PracticesTooth WearBrushesBrushing FrequencyHousehold Income DistributionHousehold Income InequalityHousehold Income InsecurityToothbrushing BehaviorToothbrushing DurationToothbrushing Habits
Toothbrushes and questionnaires from 94 adult dentate individuals were analyzed. More than 97% of respondents said they brushed their teeth at least once a day, while 48% used more than one toothbrush (such as one at home and another at work). Only 47% said they preferred a soft nylon bristle, while 41% preferred medium and 10% a hard nylon bristle. More than 73% of subjects said they used their brushes for 3 months or longer. Examination of collected brushes by both objective and subjective criteria revealed a wide variation in wear; however, the majority of brushes did not appear to be 'worn-out'. No significant correlation was found between objective wear-index and the educational level of the user, annual household income of the user, or reported time in use of the brush. A significant (p less than 0.01) correlation was found between brush wear-index and the ability of the user to judge toothbrush wear.