TOOTH BRUSHING, FLOSSING, AND PREVENTIVE DENTAL VISITS BY DETROIT AREA RESIDENTS IN RELATION TO DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC-FACTORS

A survey was conducted to identify (a) factors that influence preventi ve dental behaviors and (b) target groups for interventions. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews with a probability sample of 662 dentate adults living in the Detroit tricounty area. The interviews i ncluded questions about demographic and socioeconomic variables and ab out three preventive behaviors: brushing, flossing, and preventive den tal visits. All behaviors were positively associated with socioeconomi c status. Females were more likely than males to perform each of the b ehaviors at the recommended frequency. The behaviors were only weakly associated with age. Whites were more likely than nonwhites to make re gular dental visits, but frequency of brushing and flossing did not va ry substantially across racial groups. The impact of race on frequency of dental visits was reduced when socioeconomic status was statistica lly controlled. Findings suggest that socioeconomic status, race, and sex remain important considerations when planning dental health educat ion or other interventions.