Impact of oral care knowledge on oral health behaviors among older residents of Nanjing: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the impact of oral care knowledge on the oral health behaviors of the older person.

METHODS

A convenience sampling method was used to distribute online questionnaires to older adults aged 60 and above in Nanjing. A total of 314 questionnaires were distributed, and 294 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective response rate of 93.63%.

RESULTS

The awareness of oral health knowledge among the older adults aged 60 and above was inadequate (11.56%), with low awareness rates regarding, and knowledge related to oral cosmetology. The results from the adjusted Poisson regression analysis showed that monthly income ( p = 0.001), education level (p = 0.006), brushing frequency (p < 0.001), toothbrush replacement (p = 0.008), mouth rinse after meals (p < 0.001), dental plaque (p < 0.001), sugar causes dental caries (p < 0.001), treatment time (p < 0.001), gum bleeding (p = 0.001), causes of bleeding (p = 0.001), the hazards of tooth loss (p < 0.001), and the three major diseases (p = 0.011) remained the main influencing factors for oral health behaviors.

CONCLUSION

Oral health knowledge among the older adults in Nanjing is currently insufficient and represents a key modifiable factor influencing behavior. Targeted health promotion should prioritize populations with lower socioeconomic status and address critical knowledge gaps to improve oral health practices.