| This study was conducted to find whether sociodemographic factors have associations with oral health behavior, such as annual dental visits, smoking, and alcohol use, and with three measures of oral quality of life (OQOL). Analyses were conducted on data of dentate participants aged 18 years and over who completed household interviews and had complete oral examinations in the NHANES III 1988–1994.; The results of the analyses revealed the lack of annual dental visits to be associated with educational levels and the possession of health insurance. Compared to those with more than high school education, those with high school or lower education were more likely to be current smokers rather than past or never smokers. Compared to other race-ethnicities, Non-Hispanic Blacks had greater odds to be never smokers rather than current smokers compared to other race-ethnicities. Participants from the Western part of the country, those separated, and those never married had 2.0, 0.3, 0.3 times, respectively, the odds to be past smokers rather than current smokers when compared to their referent groups. The higher the age, the greater the odds to be past users of alcohol rather current users compared to the referent group, those in 25- to 34- years, 35- to 44- years, 55- to 64- years, and >65 years had 0.6, 1.7, 3.3 times, respectively, the odds to be never drinkers rather than current drinkers. Those with high school education and low and middle-income levels were more likely than others to be never drinkers rather than current drinkers. Compared with non-Hispanic Whites, minority groups are more likely to be never or past drinkers rather than current drinkers. Participants from the Northeast, Midwest and West regions were less likely to be never drinkers rather than current drinkers when compared to participants from the South.; Age, gender, income levels, race-ethnicity, and being from the Northeast were associated with the DMFS index. Age, income levels, non-Hispanic Blacks, and the West were associated with having periodontal disease. Self-rated perception of natural dentition was found to be associated with some age groups, education levels, and health insurance status. Current use of alcohol was associated with better oral health.; The finding of associations among sociodemographic factors, oral health Behavior, and OQOL have implications for planning and implementing oral health promotion interventions. Consideration of these factors in oral health interventions can improve the effectiveness of interventions. The finding that those with current alcohol status have better oral health contradicts previous research and deserves further exploration. |
