Sexual differences in oral health behaviour and factors associated with oral health behaviour in Japanese young adults

The aim of this study is to compare the state of oral health behaviour between genders and to analyse factors associated with oral health behaviour by gender in young adults. Anonymous questionnaire data were collected from 527 adults (245 men and 282 women) aged 20-29 years who consulted dentists in Chiba City. The Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney analysis, and logistic regression analysis were used to examine the differences in oral health behaviour and determinants of oral health behaviour between young men and young women. The rate of good behaviour among women were significantly higher than those among men in each oral health behaviour item (toothbrushing frequency p < 0.001; using dental floss p = 0.042; dental checkups p < 0.001). In women, factors associated with each oral health behaviour were as follows: toothbrushing frequency (family composition p = 0.030); using dental floss (dental health knowledge p = 0.025, employment status p = 0.031), and dental checkups (age group p = 0.024). In men, a significant relationship was seen only between using dental floss and age group (p = 0.025). This study indicated that young women had better oral health behaviour and that more factors were associated with their oral health behaviour in comparison with young men. (C) 2003 The Royal Institute of Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.