Oral health behavior such as toothbrushing one''s teeth, using dentifrice and such are an important part of improving one’s oral health and therefore quality of life. However, it is also necessary to research exposure to harmful chemical substances. Therefore, this study investigated the factors that affect oral health behavior with the purpose of improving oral health and also researching fluorine exposure resulting from oral health behavior initiation so that correct oral health guidelines can be provided.
From the year 2013 to 2014, a total of 9,969 persons over the age of 15 were recruited in research on oral health behavior and demographic characteristics. By using ConsExpo 5.0, the exposure to fluorine from toothbrushing was assessed. And fluorine concentration within the fingernails was analyzed. In addition, oral health behavior, dietary intake and the DMFT rate was researched.
As a result, after investigating the dentifrice used by the research subjects, 173 types were used made by 38 different manufacturers. Ingredients contained in the dentifrice added up to 149, where silicon dioxide was the most abundant at 103 (58.5%), sodium fluoride at 77 (43.8%) and sodium mono fluoro phosphate at 46 (26.1%). The number of times that subjects brushed their teeth according to demographical characteristics were distinguished by gender, marital status, age, academic history, monthly salary and residence (p<0.05). The factors that significantly affected the time subjects brushed their teeth were academic history, age, gender, marital status, residence and monthly salary. Males showed 1.42 times higher rate in toothbrushing their teeth more than three times over females. As age rose compared to the age between 15-19, the number of times subjects brushed their teeth more than three times showed a decrease (p<0.01).
The time it took to brush one’s teeth according to demographic factors are as followings: compared to subjects residing in a metropolis or megalopolis, subjects residing in the Gangwondo and toothbrushing their teeth for more than three minutes per time were 1.853 times more, 1.339 times more for Jeollado, showing more subjects who brushed their teeth for more than three minutes (p<0.01). In the case of Chungcheongdo, subjects showed 0.858 times more, Gyeongsangdo at 0.651 and 0.573 for Jejusi, showing lower comparisons (p<0.01). In demographical characteristics, males showed higher results than females at 1.296 times more (p<0.01) when mouthrinsing more than 5 times after toothbrushing their teeth. In the case of residing areas in comparison to megalopolises and metropolises, residing in Gangwondo and mouthrinsing their mouthrinsing for more than 5 times showed 1.461 times more, 1.744 times more in Chungcheongdo, 1.262 times more at Gyeongsangdo, showing higher results. In the case of Jeollado, the results showed 0.577 more, 0.606 for Jejusi, showing lower results in mouthrinsing the mouthrinsing for more than 5 times (p<0.01).
The demographical factor which affects the amount of dentifrice used when toothbrushing teeth showed the following results: male subjects showed 0.885 times more than females in using more than 1800 mg of dentifrice (p<0.05). In age, the age group of 20-29 compared to 15-19 and using more than 1800 mg of dentifrice showed 1.383 times more, 30-39 at 1.540 times and 40-49 at 1.434 times more (p<0.05). In the case of residing area compared to the megalopolis and metropolis, subjects residing in the Gangwondo showed 1.952 time more and Chungcheong-do at 2.396 times more in using more than 1800 mg. In the case of Gyeongsang and Jejusi, the results showed lower values at 0.633 and 0.235 times consecutively.
As a result of applying the fluorine compound’s oral exposure in the ConsExpo 5.0 model, adult males’ oral external dose was at 0.000196 mg/kg, oral acute (internal) dose at 0.000196 mg/kg/day and oral chronic (internal) dose at 0.000465 mg/kg/day. In the case of females, the oral dose was at 4.1×10-6 mg/kg, oral acute (internal) dose at 4.1×10-6 mg/kg and oral chronic (internal) dose at 9.99×10-6 mg/kg/day.
As for the concentration of fluorine within fingernails according to daily teeth toothbrushing, the results are as follows: 3.25±2.52 ㎕/g when under 2 times per day and 2.64±1.82 ㎕/g when more than 3 times per day. The concentration of fluorine within fingernails according to the time consumed for daily teeth toothbrushing is as follows: 3.45±2.08 ㎕/g when under 1 minute, 2.96±2.35 ㎕/g when under 2 minutes and 2.79±2.18 ㎕/g when under 3 minutes. 3.12±2.30 ㎕/g in the case of mouthrinsing the mouthrinsing between 1-6 times when daily teeth toothbrushing and 2.56±1.92 ㎕/g when more than 7 times. As for the concentration of fluorine within fingernails according to the amount of dentifrice used per time, the results showed 3.16±2.43 ㎕/g when the amount was at 1300 mg and 2.61±1.77 ㎕/g when more than 1800 mg was used.
As for the results of this research and to deliver better oral health and improve quality of life, medical services at a national scale must be initiated by selecting groups which are weak at maintaining healthy oral behaviors. In addition, to lessen the amount of exposure to harmful chemical matters resulting from oral health behaviors, it is the view of the author that more research must be conducted to identify the routes and the degree of fluorine exposure within the human body.