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Health Promotion International, Vol. 6, No. 1, 21-30, 1991
© Oxford University Press 1991

research-article

Oral health promotion among Finnish adolescents between 1977 and 1989

EINO HONKALA, SAKARI KARVONEN, ARJI RIMPELÄ, MATTI RAJALÄ, MATTI RIMPELÄ and RITVA PRÄTTÄLÄ

Department of Preventive Dentistry and Cariology, University of Kuopio Finland Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki Finland Department of Nutrition, University of Helsinki Finland

Address for correspondence: Correspondence address: Assistant Professor Eino Honkala Department of Preventive Dentistry and Cariology University of Kuopio POB 6 SF-70211 Kuopio Finland

In Finland a national, comprehensive preventive oriented oral health programme was implemented in 1972. Oral health habits and services as well as their development were followed in the Juvenile Health Habit Study programme between 1977 and 1989. Postal questionnaires were sent to 12–18 year old Finns every second year from 1977. The response rates of the nationally representative samples were 79–88%. The most recent questionnaire was answered by 3220 adolescents (80%).

Use of oral health services increased continuously from 1977 to 1985. In 1985 there was a slight decrease in the use among 16 and 18 year olds. Sex and socioeconomic differences in the use of these services disappeared in 1985. In 1989 half of the adolescents had received instruction about oral hygiene but only 20% about use of sugar during their last dental visit.

Oral hygiene habits (toothbrushing and use of dental floss) improved slowly but continuously during the whole period Daily use of dental floss was still rare and one-third of the Finnish boys did not brush their teeth daily in 1989.

The most common sugar-containing products used daily were hot sweet drinks (sugar-sweetened coffee, tea and hot chocolate). Use of sugar-sweetened coffee and cakes decreased but that of sweets, soft drinks, sugar-sweetened tea and hot chocolate remained unchanged. Use of sweetened yogurt increased slightly.

The positive trend in the use of oral health services and oral health behaviour can be explained by the national oral health promotion programme. Extensive toothbrush and toothpaste advertisements and changes in teenagers' life-style associated with urbanization of the society may also have contributed to the improvements.

Key words: adolescence; health behaviour; oral health promotion


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