The Association Between General Health Literacy and Oral Health Among Korean Adults.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association between general health literacy (HL) and multiple oral health indicators among Korean adults.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 5338 adults (≥ 19 years) who participated in the 2023 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. HL was assessed using the Health Literacy Index for the Community (HLIC), with scores < 28 indicating inadequate HL. Three oral health status outcomes (chewing difficulty, self-rated oral health, and voice discomfort) and one preventive dental care utilization outcome (oral health screening) were examined. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for sociodemographic, health-related, and behavioral factors.

RESULTS

After full adjustment, inadequate HL was associated with chewing difficulty, voice discomfort, and poor self-rated oral health. Additionally, individuals with inadequate HL were less likely to have undergone preventive oral screening in the past year.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that inadequate HL is independently associated with poorer oral health outcomes and reduced dental care utilization, particularly in Asian contexts where oral health literacy interventions remain limited.