Are university students continuing their oral-dental health practices as performed in childhood?

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between university students\u27 oral-dental health behavior in their childhood and at present. Methods: A self-administered anonymous questionnaire survey was performed with 3rd and 4th year university students in Nagasaki. The questionnaire included questions regarding oral-dental health practices related to toothbrushing, dental health check-ups, fluoride varnish, self-checking of oral and dental conditions, eating habits of sweets, mastication during eating, and frequency of toothbrush renewal, both currently and that of in childhood during primary school years. Results: A total of 150 responses were analyzed. It was found that students brush their teeth 2.9 ± 0.9 (mean ± standard deviation) times per day, while they brushed 2.7 ± 0.7 times per day in childhood (r = 0.339). Seventy two of the students brushed their teeth 3 times or more per day at both the time of the survey and in childhood (48.0%). Conclusion: It is necessary to establish oral-dental health behaviors as part of everyday lifestyle from childhood with continuous intervention of oral-dental health promotion