| Summary: |
Aim: Our aim was to investigate whether cynical hostility, self-reported
toothbrushing frequency and objectively assessed levels of oral hygiene were
associated.
Material and Methods: The present study sample consisted of 4156 30–64-year-old
dentate Finns. The questionnaire and the home interview included information about
socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors and behavioural variables, such as
toothbrushing frequency, dental attendance, smoking and cynical hostility. The level
of oral hygiene was assessed during a clinical oral examination. The w2 test and ordinal
logistic regression analyses were used.
Results: After controlling for sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, smoking
habits and reported dental attendance, the subjects belonging to the lowest cynical
hostility level were found to brush their teeth significantly more often and to have
better oral hygiene compared with those belonging the highest cynical hostility level.
Toothbrushing frequency was adjusted when oral hygiene was used as the outcome
variable. The association of cynical hostility with toothbrushing frequency and the oral
hygiene seems to be partly dependent on the level of education.
Conclusions: Cynical hostility is a psychosocial risk marker for the frequency and
quality of toothbrushing and it could be a connecting trait between general health
behaviour and oral health behaviour.
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