Journal of Public Health Dentistry 138 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 preventive 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 included questions about demographic and socioeco-nomic variables and about three preventive behaviors: brushing, flossing, and preventive dental visits. All behav-iors were positively associated with socioeconomic sta-tus. Females were more likely than males toperform each of the behaviors at the recommended frequency. The behaviors were only weakly associated with age. Whites were more likely than nonwhites to make regular dental visits, but frequency of brushing and flossing did no? vary substantially across racial groups. The impact of race on frequency of dental visits was reduced when socioeco-nomic status was statistically controlled. Findings sug-gest that socioeconomic status, race, and sex remain important considerations when planning dental health education or other interventions. Key Words: preventive behavior, health services acces-sibility, dental self-care, dental care utilization. Tooth decay, periodontal diseases, and tooth loss are significant problems in the United States, affecting mil