TRENDS IN TOOTHBRUSHING AND UTILIZATION OF DENTAL SERVICES IN FINLAND

Prevention and control of common dental diseases highly depends on ind ividual behavior, and during the last decades, individuals have increa singly been required to take responsibility for their own oral health. In Finland the rate of toothbrushing and dental visits were first sur veyed nationwide in 1971 by interviews with a sample of 1063 individua ls, drawn to represent the total population aged 15 yr and over. At th e time, 68% of the 829 dentulous interviewees claimed to brush at leas t once a day. Using another sample of 1006 interviewees, drawn in the same manner, in 1990 the brushing rate was found to have increased to 91% in 853 dentulous subjects. Daily brushing was more frequent among women (98%) than men (83%). The most distinct positive change regardin g brushing frequency was found among men and those with only elementar y education. In 1971 the interval between the two most recent dental v isits was 1 yr or less for 44% of all the interviewees and for 25% it was more than 5 yr. In 1990, 53% of the interviewees had visited a den tist within a year and the visiting interval was more than 5 yr for 16 %. The youngest subjects were the most frequent visitors: 60% of them in 1971 and 74% in 1990. The results indicate a clear trend toward mor e frequent brushing in Finland. However, this trend regarding dental v isits does not seem to be equally remarkable.