This study investigated whether oral health status is associated with
marital quality. 164 families (father, mother and at least one 13-year
-old child) from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, were selected from 13-year-ol
d children from private and state schools. The parents' ages ranged fr
om 35 to 44 years. A highly significant negative association between m
arital quality and the father's (p < 0.001), mother's (p < 0.001) and
child's dental caries (p < 0.01) was found. A significant negative ass
ociation between marital quality and periodontal diseases was also fou
nd for fathers (p < 0.01) and mothers (p < 0.05). Other significant as
sociations were found within the population studied. Lower sugar consu
mption, upper socio-economic status, higher frequency of dental attend
ance, higher toothbrushing frequency and younger age were significantl
y associated (p < 0.05) with lower levels of dental caries. Upper soci
o-economic status, lower work-related mental demand and higher frequen
cy of dental attendance were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with
better periodontal status.